FOOTBALL: Healy can become the Hagi of Ireland Says CRAIG BROWN

NORTHERN Ireland's out-of-sorts striker David Healy has been given a massive vote of confidence by his club boss Craig Brown despite rumours that he was "burnt out".

It's over a year since the Killyleagh man has scored for his country and worries about the 22-year-old were rife in Preston after Healy was dropped earlier this season.

At Deepdale, Healy is in contention with Ricardo Fuller and Richard Cresswell for a jersey, yet neither is rated international class.

They wouldn't have been mentioned in the same breath as the Northern Ireland frontman a year ago as eight international goals were piled up in record time.

But Brown, long-time manager of Scotland, is not concerned, and his confidence was backed up when Healy scored in a 2-0 victory over Derby yesterday.

"I heard the burn-out theory," confirmed Brown. "I suppose it was inevitable after David's brilliant start for Preston and Northern Ireland. But I don't subscribe to it.

"Admittedly, David has packed in a lot of games for club and country since he moved from Manchester United reserves. But I see a very fit and eager player.

"David actually comes in for extra training almost every day with Billy Davis, the former Motherwell manager. They are working very hard on his finishing."

It was Brown who first left Healy out of the Preston team but he explains: "There is competition for places and I had to try all the permutations.

"But when David got back in he scored twice in his first game.

"I can truthfully say he is one of the best strikers I have ever worked with - and they include Ally McCoist, Mo Johnstone and Kevin Gallacher.

"David reminds me at times of Romania's Hagi.

"There is a sharp football brain, two good feet and an exceptionally powerful shot from a minimum of back-lift. And I believe there is more to come.

"Northern Ireland have a tough Euro Championship opener in Spain but if Healy is given even one decent chance, I would back him to put it away. The higher the level, the better he will perform."

Sammy McIlroy shares that faith, despite a dramatic slowing of Healy's strike rate.

"We haven't been able to support David as much as we would have wished," he points out. "Our struggles for players have been very well documented.

"But I felt the lad was unlucky not to score against Cyprus and I've been pleased with his form at club level. There is no question he is still our No. 1 striker."

Preston will also be sending Colin Murdock into European action and Brown insists he can cope with the World Cup quarter-finalists.

"Colin just seems to get better and better," he said, "and there are few who could outclass him in the air. He is criticised for lack of pace but, in fact, covers ground deceptively quickly.

"In talks with Sir Alex Ferguson, I get the impression they thought Colin was quite unlucky in his days at Old Trafford.

"He lost 18 months to injury and coincided with really great defenders, Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce."

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