FED up with sitting on the bench, week in, week out, David Healy has almost forgotten what it's like to start a game.

Carl Marston

FED up with sitting on the bench, week in, week out, David Healy has almost forgotten what it's like to start a game.

But Ipswich Town's new capture, recruited on loan from Sunderland for the rest of the season on Monday, is now relishing the chance to propel Roy Keane's men up the table.

And not as a bit-part player, but as a key member of the team.

Healy has never started a Premier League game for Sunderland, despite his high-profile �1m-plus move from Fulham during the summer of 2008.

After 13 league appearances as a substitute, he is finally looking forward to landing a regular place in Town's starting line-up, beginning with Saturday's home game against Middlesbrough.

"I haven't been enjoying sitting on the bench every Saturday and not playing," confessed front-runner Healy.

"It has been really tough to take and has got me down on occasions.

“It has been the most frustrating season that I can remember in my career, but hopefully with this move to Ipswich Town I will start to feel like a footballer again,” added Healy.

Northern Ireland stalwart Healy, who is his country's all-time leading goalscorer (35 goals), and fellow new loan recruit Daryl Murphy, are both expected to play against 'Boro.

Murphy, like Healy, is at Portman Road for the rest of the season after a similar tale of only limited chances at Sunderland.

Town have struggled to score goals this term, especially away from home, where they have mustered just 15 goals from 13 away league games. More worryingly, they have netted only seven goals in their last eight league games on the road.

But Healy is in the mood to put that right: "I want to get back to playing on a regular basis and I want to start scoring goals again.

“This is a new challenge for me, playing for a club and fans with great respect throughout Britain, and I'm looking forward to it.”

The presence of fellow Irishman Keane as manager - the duo were briefly team-mates while Healy was at Manchester United at the start of his career - was a prime reason for the 30-year-old opting for Town on transfer deadline day.

Several other Championship clubs, in addition to cash-strapped Premiership basemen dwellers Portsmouth, were also keen to sign him.