With Canaries team-mate Phil Mulryne out injured, the onus could fall on Healy to end the nation’s goal drought at this level.

Since he moved on loan to Norwich from Preston, Healy has settled in well and scored a spectacular goal at the weekend in the 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy, who attended the match, said: “David is a totally different player to the one at Preston a month ago.

“He has got a new lease of life and is enjoying his football again. Losing Mulryne is a blow but the bonus is Healy’s form.

McIlroy is hoping for a boost tomorrow ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifiers against Armenia and Greece in March.

Northern Ireland began their campaign by losing to Spain then got a point against Ukraine – so McIlroy knows they need to get a win under their belts soon.

He said: “We couldn’t have got a tougher start in our group. I thought we were unlucky not to get three points against Ukraine. We didn’t have the cutting edge.

“We need a confidence boost going into the next two qualifiers. Armenia are no mugs but if we go about it in the right way with a strong squad we can get a good result.

“That why the game against Finland is vital. It will be a good test for us as they have some quality players.”

McIlroy will be without four of his squad – Mulryne, Colin Murdock, Gerry Taggart and Kevin Horlock through illness and injury.

He said: “It is a lot of players to lose especially when you are trying your best to rebuild the national side.”