NICKY Hunt believes victory over Everton at the Reebok today can put Wanderers right back on course for another top 10 challenge.

The home-grown defender, who signed a new four-year contract this week, says the impressive performance against Reading last weekend went some way to making up for the bitter disappointment of kicking off the season with three straight defeats.

Now he says it is essential they follow up that most comprehensive of victories with another three points.

"We haven't had the best start and conceding eight goals in the first three games was a major problem," Hunt acknowledged.

"We addressed that with an excellent clean sheet against Reading, which was topped off with three excellent goals. Now we have to back that up with a win, or it will mean nothing."

Hunt reckons it would be premature to draw any conclusions until after Wanderers have played 10 games, but the sooner they get points in the bag, the better. And he believes Sammy Lee might just have hit on a winning formula.

"The objective is to get to 10 games in and by then we will know how successful this season is going to be," he said.

"We know that we have to continue winning to put us in a position to challenge for a top half finish again. It is a long season and things can change, but if we can get off to a positive start we can set some solid foundations.

"It has been different under Sammy, but progressive as well. He is putting his own stamp of approval across the team and gradually his methods are filtering through.

"We always said that it was going to be difficult process and that the players and fans have to be patient. I feel we are now turning the corner and the players are adapting to the new style of play.

"Ironically we played the first three games as a 4-4-2 unit but moved to a customary 4-1-4-1 system against Reading, which I feel enabled us to get the win and still be solid at the back."

News of Hunt's new deal was overshadowed by the announcement that Nicolas Anelka had also penned a four-year contract. But it meant everything to the boy from Westhoughton, who turns 24 on Monday.

"This is my club and to play for my hometown team is a dream," he added.

"Signing the new contract was an easy decision to make. I wanted to stay here and play for no one else. Sammy Lee took me into his office at the end of last season and said that he wanted me to stay.

"So, once I got the commitment from the club it was a very easy decision to make."