Early bird Healy ready for Czechs

David Healy has been on the dawn patrol in a bid to catch the Czech Republic napping in their World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park tomorrow.

Northern Ireland’s record scorer is determined to rediscover his scoring touch following the defeat by Slovakia at the weekend.

Healy wants to give the supporters something to shout about this time and that is why he has been putting in extra shifts.

Manager Nigel Worthington has spoken of his astonishment at spying the Sunderland striker in the gym before breakfast.

The former Norwich boss believes it is a statement of intent from Healy that he is hurting after the events of Bratislava.

Worthington said: “I was on a bike and in walked David at half past seven. I had to look twice to see if it was him.

“That said to me he was disappointed about the Slovakia game and he wanted to do something about it.

“He was in the gym, in the pool then went to training with the other players with a smile on his face, which is what you like to see.”

Healy sealed a move to Sunderland from Fulham last month and is keen to get a run of games under his belt following a downturn in his fortunes at Craven Cottage.

Worthington said: “I think David feels his sharpness is not up to speed. He has not played as much football pre-season as he would have done in the past.

“I have had a word with him and told him just to keep his head up. Frustration happens in sport and he has got to deal with it.

“He certainly has the quality and the technique. I have had him out for 15 hours on the training ground, hitting the back of the net. I am more tired than him! ”

Worthington is delighted they are playing all their five home qualifiers at night and dispensing with early kick-offs.

England, Spain and Sweden have all suffered shock defeats in competitive games in front of a small but highly partisan crowd.

Worthington recalled his own time wearing the colours, in a 66-cap career that included the 1986 World Cup.

He said: “The atmosphere at night is far superior. Even though the crowd is about the same there is just something about the darkness and the support, that make it different.

“We decided to try and take advantage of the situation as much as we can in relation to kick-off times.

“We are home we have got to go for it, starting against the Czech Republic.”

The visitors are ranked eighth in the world and Worthington puts the visitors on par with England and Spain.

He said: “The Czechs have a lot of experience and if you give them half a yard, they can pass the ball for fun.

“We will try and make it a good British game, get a few tackles in and stay close to them.

“If it is raining and windy that will be right up our street. It will be a good challenge and a good game.”