Lunt is one of many players to emerge from the Crewe Alexandra Academy – alongside Dean Ashton, Rob Hulse and Danny Murphy – nurtured by then manager, Dario Gradi and Crewe Alexandra "Centre of Excellence" manager Bill Prendergast. Having attended the National School at Lilleshall, in the same group of players as Michael Owen, Wes Brown and Michael Ball, Lunt made his Crewe debut, aged 17, on the first day of the 1997–98 season against Swindon Town. He went on to score on his home debut, hitting a 6th-minute volley against Bury in the League Cup.