Sunderland FC

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• Manager:Steve Bruce

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Bruce rules out Healy loan exit

23 Sep 2009 - 16:16:58

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Northern Ireland international David Healy will not be allowed to leave Sunderland on loan, according to boss Steve Bruce.

The former Leeds United, Fulham and Preston North End star has struggled to break into Bruce's first-team plans at the Stadium of Light and was recently linked with a loan switch to Coventry City.

Ipswich Town boss has reportedly been keen on bringing Daryl Murphy to Portman Road, but Bruce is more concerned by the club's lengthening injury list.

He said: "George McCartney got a knock on his foot yesterday morning and with him out, along with Lee Cattermole and Marton Fulop, the squad we fielded against Birmingham City was it - that's all we had left to put out.

"We haven't got a lot of players to choose from right now.

"So David Healy is staying at Sunderland, so is Daryl Murphy for the next two or three months at least because the numbers we have to call on is small, in that respect.

"I took a decision - I wouldn't call it a gamble - that the money we were offered for some of our squad players was too good to turn down.

"But, as things stand now, we really can't let any more go."