Healy accepts apology for horror tackle
Sunderland's Irish international midfielder Colin Healy has accepted an apology over the horrific tackle that broke his leg.
The 23-year-old Corkman fractured two bones in his lower leg in a clash with Coventry’s Youssef Safri on December 8.
Manager Mick McCarthy was furious with the challenge and even more incensed that the match officials saw nothing wrong with it.
However, Healy is prepared to forgive and forget as he sets out on the long road back to fitness.
“He (Safri) has been in touch and apologised and that’s the end of it,” he said. “I prefer to look forward.”
The former Celtic midfielder was back at the Black Cats’ training ground yesterday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair the break, and although he faces months of rehabilitation with physio Pete Friar, the messages of goodwill he has received have lifted his spirits.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has sent me messages of goodwill and supported me,” he said. “I really appreciate it.
“It has obviously been a bad time for me and the support has helped me through. I was in a lot of pain in the days after the injury and the well-wishers helped my spirits.
“It’s easy to get down about it, but I’m feeling a lot more positive now and I’m keen to start work with our physio, Pete Friar. I’m looking forward to playing again.
“I’ve been told that the operation went well and I’m positive about the future. It was good to be back in and see the lads today.”
Healy will have to watch from afar as his team-mates attempt to resurrect their promotion campaign with successive home games against lowly Wimbledon and Bradford.
The Dons provide the opposition at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, and the manager told the club’s official website, www.safc.com: “We need to win a few to get back on track.
“We could do with three points tomorrow because we would expect to win our home matches, but it won’t just happen – we have to make it happen. I think we are always expected to win at home, so nothing has changed there.
“Expectations will be high and that brings pressure but we have to live with that.”
McCarthy will be forced into a reshuffle with left-back Julio Arca starting a two-match ban.
George McCartney could move to full-back with either Phil Babb or Darren Williams, who missed the 3-2 defeat at West Ham last Saturday through suspension, likely to partner Joachim Bjorklund in central defence.
Experienced defender Gary Breen is still out injured.
