Keano Expects
Thur, Feb 04 2010
With a deal done at the very last minute to take David Healy to Portman Road, will this be his final chance?
We were kept guessing right to the wire on Monday when finally an SMS at 4.52pm from someone close to the action at Sunderland confirmed both Healy and Daryl Murphy were being taken on loan by Roy Keane. It is no secret that Ipswich, despite a few decent results, have not had an easy time under Keano and are far from relegation safety. So it makes sense that Keane bolsters his squad and a loan deal for two strikers is ideal.
It looks ideal on the outset but Healy will be looking for a more permanent move in the summer and unless he pulls the hat out of the bag for the Tractorboys then he could find himself out in the cold again. Keane brought Healy to Sunderland in the first instance so the expectation will be for Healy, more so than Daryl Murphy, to find the net.
"I talked to Roy Keane and he made it clear that he wanted me at Ipswich which was nice to hear," Healy told the local press.
"I'm relishing playing for Roy again. It is a massive challenge for me and my aim is to help Ipswich pick up as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.
"It has been the most frustrating season that I can remember in my career but hopefully with this move to Ipswich Town I will start to feel like a footballer again. I haven't been enjoying sitting on the bench every Saturday and not playing. It has been really tough to take and has got me down on occasions. That's why I am so delighted to be given this opportunity and I intend to take it."
Keane told the press, "The two new lads will give us something a bit different to the other strikers we have here.
"I hope that they score goals, especially David, who is more of a goalscorer than Murph. But Murph too has got goals for me in the Championship.
"I decided we had to shake up things, especially after last Saturday. I got two in, but I was hoping to get one or two more in as well. That is something I will be hoping to address from next week. "
No doubt both Nigel Worthington and a vast majority of the Northern Ireland supporters will be happy to see Healy leave Sunderland and would hope that the chance of regular first team football will cement his place in the Northern Ireland squad. However, competition is fierce. Worthington has a wealth of strike partnerships to chose from and players such as Steve Jones and Andy Kirk, who have been sidelined for some time, are now back in with a shout based on outstanding club performances.
Worthington has also been keeping an eye on homegrown talent with Coleraine and ex-FC United striker Rory Patterson raising an eyebrow or two. It is likely there will be some fresh faces in the squad for next months friendly in Albania and it would be no surprise to see Healy excluded altogether.
This is a huge few months for Healy. He now has the opportunity to turn things round for himself. It is likely he will be included in Keane's squad against Middlesborough on Saturday, and given Healy's record for scoring on his debut, he may well be worth a punt.
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