While he has Beckham-like status in the province, Northern Ireland's record goalscorer has had to get used to life on the fringes in the Premier League.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane signed Healy from Fulham in the summer, but the striker was not even in the squad on Saturday when Blackburn were beaten at Ewood Park.

The goals have flowed on the international stage - a record 13 in the Euro 2008 qualifiers - only to become a trickle on the domestic scene.

Healy is at a loss to understand why he has been unable to bridge that gap, as Northern Ireland prepare to face Hungary at Windsor Park.

"I am sure Roy Keane, (Fulham manager) Roy Hodgson and (former Leeds boss) Dennis Wise would love to know the answer," he said at the launch of his DVD, David Healy The Talisman.

"Maybe it is a little bit slower in international football, and you get a bit more time on the ball.

"The Northern Ireland fans have seen enough of me, and the manager at Sunderland has probably not seen the real me.

"I have played a couple of reserve games - and while they are not the biggest of occasions, given that opportunities have been limited, I will take any minutes that come along.

"You are always trying to prove to people - in a first-team game, a reserve-team game or in training - you are more than capable of holding your own.

"So tomorrow is a big opportunity for me, and that's why I am looking forward to facing Hungary.

"I look back on the criticism - and that inspires me to keep going, keep playing and keep scoring goals."

Healy was relieved to get off the mark, at the fourth time of asking, in the World Cup qualifying campaign last month when San Marino were beaten 4-0 at Windsor Park.

He went into that match against the minnows baffled that some sceptics were writing him off.

He said: "I was pleased to score against San Marino. Maybe if I had not, people would have said 'Maybe he's lost it; maybe he's finished'.

"They seemed to forget that I was in the middle of the side that went 13 matches without a goal.

"When you look at that figure and when you don't score in two or the three matches, it is nothing really."