Healy will become a big hit, says boss

Elvin King

BLUES manager Roy Keane is set to play key striker David Healy today and predicts the 30-year-old will prove a hit at Portman Road.

While Daryl Murphy, who joined Town in a joint loan move from Sunderland, has begun with a bang with three goals in three games, Healy has struggled to make an impact.

Indicating that he is prepared to start with the Northern Ireland international in the crucial Championship game at Sheffield Wednesday today (kick-off 3pm) Keane said:

“Daryl had enjoyed more first team minutes than David when he arrived and this has shown.

“David showed some good movement in our 3-1 defeat at Peterborough on Tuesday and was denied his first goal by a superb save.

“He has been doing extra training and it will come for him. There is plenty more that will come from David.”

Keane says he still has enough striking options and he explained why he let six-goal Jon Stead go on loan to Coventry.

“It's not as though I was letting go a 15-goal player,” added Keane, who says that the left-back position remains a problem.

“I'm not the only manager in the division pondering over who to play at left back. We've tried several options and continue to look at it.”

One player not in line for a place in the side is experienced Welsh international Ben Thatcher, who Keane says is out of the picture and likely to leave the club in the next few days.

“There could be some news on Ben soon,” added Keane, who sees reserve team skipper Shane O'Connor ahead of Thatcher and set to get a first-team chance before the end of the campaign.

There are no loan signings on the horizon with Keane already having four loanees with only a maximum of five allowed in any one squad.

“I have options today with Brian Murphy have played in the reserves although Sheffield Wednesday will be rubbing their hands at playing us with our poor away form.”