EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUP C: Faroe Islands v N Ireland:NIGEL WORTHINGTON has promised he will not disregard David Healy even though the Sunderland striker is without a goal in two years for Northern Ireland.

Healy missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Italy on Friday when he headed wide at the far post. The match finished 0-0 and Healy, who is having to content himself with reserve football at his club, faces an anxious wait to see if he is in the starting line-up to face Brian Kerr’s Faroe Islands tomorrow in Toftir.

He faces stiff competition from Rangers’ Kyle Lafferty, who looked impressive when he stepped off the bench against the former world champions.

Worthington was giving little away, though. “I will give plenty of thought to my starting line-up and Kyle comes into those thoughts, but I haven’t made a decision, ” said the Northern Ireland manager. “I liked what Kyle did against Italy and if he can do that on a regular basis then he puts himself in a strong position for a start.

“With David, I have said I will support him but that does not mean he is always going to start. I will support him throughout his lean period because of the quality striker he is and what he has achieved for his country.

“It would be very wrong of me to disregard a player who has scored a lot of goals for Northern Ireland and has to potential to get many more. “I make the decisions and will live with them, good or bad. That is part of the remit as far as the job is concerned.”

Defender Craig Cathcart has withdrawn from the game with a back injury.