“Goalscorers never lose that knack of scoring goals”…Healy pledges to win over sceptical fans starting with the Irons

He might have originally whetted the appetite more than Daryl Murphy, but David Healy admits he has been second best since the striking duo signed for Ipswich Town.

Murphy’s signature was met with a mixed reaction but Healy was seen by the majority as the man to fire Town to safety. Although his club record hasn’t always been that great, most thought Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer would have enough in his locker to trouble even the meanest of Championship defences.

But it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Murphy has been something of a goal machine with five in eight matches. He is the man closing in on Town’s top goalscorers and the one supporters are calling for Roy Keane to sign permanently. In contrast, Healy is still struggling for fitness and form and has failed to win over some fans who would prefer to see Pablo Counago partner the in-form Sunderland loanee.

But like any true frontman, Healy is not short of confidence and has pledged to start finding the net, whether in the first eleven or making an impact from the bench. He told the club website: “They say that goalscorers never lose that knack of scoring goals, which they probably don’t. I believe I can score goals and hopefully I will get the opportunities and show that I can do that for Ipswich Town.

“If I’m starting, great, if I’m on the bench then I’ve got to be ready to come on and make an impact. Subs change games sometimes. In tight matches, you can come on and make a difference and you’ve got to be prepared right and focused when you come on. The gaffer always makes a big point when he is talking to players that he wants his substitutes to go on and have a bearing on the game.”

Healy has impressed in bit-parts during his short time in Suffolk. His touch looks good and he links up play well. But he has often gone out wide to look for the ball, even if such a move led to Murphy’s first goal for Town against Middlesbrough. Having made four starts and four from the bench, he still looks ring-rusty and both Counago and Connor Wickham are sniffing around for a start in tomorrow’s must-win match against Scunthorpe.

Such a move would be welcomed by some with parts of the Britannia Stand calling for Keane to haul off Healy during a largely ineffectual first half performance on Tuesday night. In the end, Healy got 56 minutes and was taken off moments after Murphy celebrated his and Town’s second goal in the 2-0 win against Cardiff.

Healy said: “I’m not one for excuses and I know the manager hates excuses but I’ve not started many games over the last year and it can take a while to feel at your best. Your job satisfaction goes down when you are not playing games and that was the situation for me at Sunderland.

“You train to play and when you are not playing, it can get to you. It can knock your confidence. Without being too unprofessional you start letting yourself drift into the comfort zone training wise, playing wise. Off the field as well. It’s down to me though to show what I know I can do and that is score goals. The manager has signed me a second time so he’s got faith in me and I’ve got to show him and the club that they were right to bring me here.”

Healy is expected to once again lead the line with Murphy against Scunthorpe and could face the Irons’ giant defender Rob Jones who is back in contention after breaking his nose.

For a full match preview, check out http://ipswichtown.myfootballwriter.com tomorrow morning.