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Football: Healy: My hell

Sunday Mirror, Feb 10, 2008 by mark McINTOSH

DAVID HEALY has revealed he is playing to put himself back in the shop window as his Fulham nightmare appears to be drawing to a close.

Northern Ireland's record goalscorer was given his big break in the Premier League by Lawrie Sanchez, but the move has failed to reap the rewards either man hoped for.

Ex-Northern Ireland boss got the boot from Craven Cottage and a parting of the ways also seems inevitable for his signing Healy.

Despite scoring in the first two games of the season, goals have been rare for the 28-year old hitman and with new boss Roy Hodgson bringing in several strikers, Healy didn't even make the bench for last Sunday's win over Aston Villa.

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Healy told Sunday Mirror Sport: "I'm still No.1. I still believe I'm the best striker at Fulham - maybe the fans and the manager might beg to differ, but I believe I'm as good as the players we've got.

"The manager has brought in a lot of players like Eddie Johnson, Jari Litmanen and possibly Daniel Cousin.

"Brian McBride and Diomansy Kamara are returning so you're talking about six or seven strikers at the club and possibly at the minute I'm seventh choice.

"That's not my opinion; if you don't believe you're good enough you might as well be seventh choice in your own mind.

"It's a difficult situation.

I've spoken to the manager who assures me I'm still part of his plans at Fulham.

"He said he'll keep me updated on his plans for me."

Healy and his Northern Ireland teammates Steven Davis (before his loan switch to Rangers) and Chris Baird have become a target for the boo boys.

Healy admitted: "The fans are expecting to see David Healy the Northern Ireland striker.

"They want to see the guy who is scoring every other game for Northern Ireland come and score every other game for Fulham.

"They wonder why my record of scoring at club level is not as good as it is at international level, and I don't understand it either.

"Some guys in England score goals for their clubs, but can't score at international level - and England have far better players than we do, but I'm the opposite.

"The fans have given me some stick, which could be justified on the odd occasion when maybe I haven't performed.

"But as a Sanchez buy and as a 'Northern Ireland signing' I was probably an easy target, as are the other guys. It's just one of those things.

"I've seen it happen to different players.

"Managers bring them in, then the manager goes and the player is still there.

"If the team is not playing well, instead of getting at Lawrie, the fans will get back at the players he signed.

"Bairdy (Chris Baird) got some stick as well, but you can't let it affect you "I had it at Leeds, you get a sarcastic cheer when you're coming off the pitch and you think, is it worth it?"

With QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Watford, Norwich and Ipswich eyeing loan moves for Healy, he admits his international performances will be his shop window.

He added: "I have a few years left on my contract, but it's a bit early to be going to the manager at the minute.

"I was happy to be on Northern Ireland duty this week because I haven't been playing as much as I'd hoped at Fulham.

"In international games you're always in the shop window, whether you're settled at a club or not there's always bigger and better things.

"You never know who's watching games so it's up to me to go out and perform.

"As I say, you never know who is out there watching you."

Football: Healy: My hell

Sunday Mirror, Feb 10, 2008 by mark McINTOSH

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