Healy remains first choice

Striker is assured of a place despite his lack of domestic action

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 25th March 2008

David Healy

Healy: Prolific striker

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Nigel Worthington has insisted that he will never drop prolific striker David Healy.

The Northern Ireland forward has a phenomenal scoring record at international level and his national team boss has assured him that his lack of domestic first-team football will not affect his place in the side.

Healy has been restricted to just 12 starts for struggling Fulham in the Premier League this season and has scored just four goals for the Cottagers in all competitions.

However, he took Northern Ireland to the brink of qualification for Euro 2008 and will receive a special award ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Georgia in recognition of his 13 strikes which broke the record for goals in European Championship qualifying.

Outstanding

The award will be presented by Uefa president Michel Platini and the legendary Frenchman feels that Healy's impressive record will take some beating.

"The outstanding performance of David Healy in the qualifying competition of the European Championships and his tally of 13 goals is a new record and deserves to be recognised," he said.

"I'm sure that this record will last for some time to come and will be hard to beat.

"This is why I will be presenting him with a special award to celebrate his fantastic achievement."

Vital

Worthington feels that the award is fully deserved and expects Healy to continue to shine on the international stage in the future.

"David fully deserves his award after the number of goals he scored," he said.

"If a striker from a bigger country had done what David has achieved then people would have been shouting it from the roof-tops but he hasn't got the coverage he deserves.

"In an ideal world I want all my players to be playing regularly for their clubs but as long as they keep their fitness and mental attitude right they should not be a million miles away.

"Even if David is not in his club side in September I still won't leave him out because he is a goal scorer and vital to everything we do."

High tempo

The former Norwich boss was also keen to point out that while there is little riding on Wednesday's Windsor Park encounter, it is vital that the players begin to build up their confidence ahead of the World Cup qualifiers which get underway in September.

"I see every game as important and the players know that.

"Training has been high tempo and that is exactly how we will approach this game, I want the players to really get their teeth into this.

"If we can start the game with that high tempo and get the supporters behind us that is what I want.

"I want to win every game, as do the players, but this will also be an opportunity to try new personnel.

"The players have had a long, hard season but they understand they have a job to do here.

"Everything is about getting ready for the World Cup qualifiers in September."