David Healy is prepared to leave top flight

Jan 2 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DAVID Healy is prepared to drop down to League One to escape his Sunderland nightmare.

The Ulsterman joined the Black Cats in the summer of 2008 as one of international football’s most potent strikers. But he has never been able to convince Steve Bruce, Ricky Sbragia or even the man who signed him, Roy Keane, that his qualities could be transferred to the Premier League.

If Healy was in any doubt as to his standing at Sunderland – where he has never started a league game and has played just 64 minutes of first-team football this season – further proof will be provided today when he watches from the sidelines as the Black Cats entertain non-League Barrow in the FA Cup third round.

Fraizer Campbell – unlike Healy, yet to score for the club – will be preferred up front with Bruce promising to field the side which drew 2-2 at Blackburn Rovers on Monday.

Healy missed out on a loan to Championship Coventry City in August, but now the transfer window has reopened he is determined not to waste another opportunity to leave.

“The time has come for me to look at other options if I am only going to get 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there at Sunderland,” Healy wrote in a newspaper column in his homeland.

“I don’t know if anything will happen during this transfer window but I certainly have to consider it.

“When you train all week, all you want to do is play at the weekend and have something to show for your efforts.”