Leeds United Football Club - Healy's Ready For Change
David Healy hopes to profit from Rob Hulse's arrival at the club as he hopes it will see him move back into the middle as a central striker.
The Northern Ireland international has been operating down the left flank for most of the games since his arrival from Preston in October as boss Kevin Blackwell has formulated a system that has made Leeds hard to beat.
Now with striker Hulse having arrived from West Brom, and experienced left-back Michael Gray from Blackburn last week, Blackwell is confident he has the personnel to change formations as and when he feels necessary, which is encouraging to Healy.
Whilst Healy is eager to play upfront again, he appreciates that the current system has its merits.
"As everyone knows I am a striker and I want to play as a striker," he said.
"But in the first game we played against Preston we ended up winning 4-2 and from there on we've picked up an average of two points every game. So it's not as if the formation has let us down.
"I have spoken to some of the lads and he's spoken to some of them and I think everyone is in the mood for a bit of a change, especially at home. Hopefully if we do go 4-4-2 we'll get the right results."
Blackwell is making no promises that he will change a system which the stats confirm has been successful, and Healy is not the kind to complain if he finds himself still out wide on the left flank despite admitting it was a surprise in the first place to find himself playing there.
"I didn't imagine I would play so many games out there but the gaffer has asked me to stay out and do a job and I feel I have done that.
"But as a striker you feel that if you're not scoring in every game you're not doing your job properly.
"So hopefully if I do get the chance to play upfront I will get the chances to score more goals."
Healy is looking forward to United's return to Elland Road after their good win at Burnley last week but he knows Leeds face a tough game against a Reading side aiming to secure their place in the play-offs. There's also the usual pressure of being the side in the division that everyone wants to beat.
"At home we are always going to be hot favourites but everyone knows that means the opposition are always up for the game.
"People want to prove to us that we are not as big or as good as we once were and everyone is looking to bring us down a peg or two. They always lift their game. We have to expect that now and go out with the attitude that we have strengthened and we are a good eleven now that should cope with that.
"The home fans deserve something because they've come out through thick and thin over the past 18 months and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they have supported us.
"It is nice when you do pick up points away from home but we know we have let ourselves down with our home form and hopefully we can improve that on Saturday."
The 25-year-old played for his country in their 1-0 defeat against Canada on Wednesday but only after recovering from a groin injury that forced him to miss a day's training. He's confident though that the problem is only very slight.
"I've had a bit of work with the Northern Ireland physio and he's reassured me that it's fine and Dave Hancock (LUFC Physio) has said the same. So until I am ready for the knackers yard I will play as I have done in every game.
"It's probably just a case of being careful, what I don't need is taking any big knocks. A bit of work with the physios and in the gym should improve it and it'll soon go away."
David Healy hopes to profit from Rob Hulse's arrival at the club as he hopes it will see him move back into the middle as a central striker.
The Northern Ireland international has been operating down the left flank for most of the games since his arrival from Preston in October as boss Kevin Blackwell has formulated a system that has made Leeds hard to beat.
Now with striker Hulse having arrived from West Brom, and experienced left-back Michael Gray from Blackburn last week, Blackwell is confident he has the personnel to change formations as and when he feels necessary, which is encouraging to Healy.
Whilst Healy is eager to play upfront again, he appreciates that the current system has its merits.
"As everyone knows I am a striker and I want to play as a striker," he said.
"But in the first game we played against Preston we ended up winning 4-2 and from there on we've picked up an average of two points every game. So it's not as if the formation has let us down.
"I have spoken to some of the lads and he's spoken to some of them and I think everyone is in the mood for a bit of a change, especially at home. Hopefully if we do go 4-4-2 we'll get the right results."
Blackwell is making no promises that he will change a system which the stats confirm has been successful, and Healy is not the kind to complain if he finds himself still out wide on the left flank despite admitting it was a surprise in the first place to find himself playing there.
"I didn't imagine I would play so many games out there but the gaffer has asked me to stay out and do a job and I feel I have done that.
"But as a striker you feel that if you're not scoring in every game you're not doing your job properly.
"So hopefully if I do get the chance to play upfront I will get the chances to score more goals."
Healy is looking forward to United's return to Elland Road after their good win at Burnley last week but he knows Leeds face a tough game against a Reading side aiming to secure their place in the play-offs. There's also the usual pressure of being the side in the division that everyone wants to beat.
"At home we are always going to be hot favourites but everyone knows that means the opposition are always up for the game.
"People want to prove to us that we are not as big or as good as we once were and everyone is looking to bring us down a peg or two. They always lift their game. We have to expect that now and go out with the attitude that we have strengthened and we are a good eleven now that should cope with that.
"The home fans deserve something because they've come out through thick and thin over the past 18 months and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they have supported us.
"It is nice when you do pick up points away from home but we know we have let ourselves down with our home form and hopefully we can improve that on Saturday."
The 25-year-old played for his country in their 1-0 defeat against Canada on Wednesday but only after recovering from a groin injury that forced him to miss a day's training. He's confident though that the problem is only very slight.
"I've had a bit of work with the Northern Ireland physio and he's reassured me that it's fine and Dave Hancock (LUFC Physio) has said the same. So until I am ready for the knackers yard I will play as I have done in every game.
"It's probably just a case of being careful, what I don't need is taking any big knocks. A bit of work with the physios and in the gym should improve it and it'll soon go away."
