Football: After leaving Bhoyhood behind Healy is ready to be Kerr's middle man; EURO 2004 GROUP 10 QUALIFIER: REP. OF IRELAND v RUSSIA, SATURDAY.

Byline: Garry Doyle

COLINHealy insisted yesterday he has no bitterness towards Martin O'Neill despite being cold-shouldered by the Celtic boss for three years. Healy, 23, managed only 32 games in three seasons under O'Neill at Parkhead,and last season he played more times for Ireland than he did for his club. Despite seeing his neighbour from Ballincollig, Liam Miller, break into the Celtic midfield this season, Healy is neither jealous, resentful nor regretful. For him life has moved on. Sunderland have less glamour, support and profile than Celtic but they offer him something O'Neill couldn't - games. "I have no bad feelings towards the club at all," said Healy yesterday. "I couldn't say a word against anyone there. "It just wasn't meant to be for me and I'm a Sunderland player now, proud to be one, and it is a big set-up there too. Things are good. "Obviously I was disappointed things didn't work out better for me at Celtic. I went on loan to Coventry two seasons back and things worked well there. "When I came back to Glasgow I wanted to make a go of it but nothing happened. I decided to be patient but by Christmas last season nothing was happening. "I knew then it was time to go. It became increasingly frustrating to be going to matches every Saturday and sitting in the stand. "Obviously I had to get away from it. It was the manager's choice not to play me and while there was never any problem between him and me, I found it hard to be out of the side. "He had a very good team and they were doing well, so you can't argue with that." This year they are doing well again, ironically with a young midfielder from Cork pulling the strings in the centre of the park. But while Miller can't get into the Ireland team he is able to do what Healy couldn't at Celtic Park, and that is to convince O'Neill that he is worth taking a chance on. Is Healy jealous? "No, not for Liam. He has come in, done very well and I am delighted for him. I know him well, played with him in Celtic youth teams, local sides in Ballincollig as well. Fair play to him." With his Celtic nightmareover, Healy is now hoping to cement his place in the Ireland team, using the change of club to his benefit. " I just want to try and play as many games as I can," he said. "I've been lucky with Ireland so far, delighted to get my chance under Mick McCarthy and Brian Kerr because I had not played too many club games before my debut. "Mick and Brian have been good to me even when I wasn't playing at Celtic. They've supported me and shown belief in me." Kerr's belief stems from the time the pair worked together at underage level.He first spotted him as a 17- year-old playing for the Munster Under 18s. His raw potential convinced Kerr to call him into his Under 18 side the following season. It paid off. In three qualification games, Healy scored three times, the final goal coming in the 95th minute against.. Russia. "A jammy finish," said Healy of the strike that sent Ireland on their way to the European finals. "A priceless gem," said Kerr of the same goal. "He had that brilliant ability to get goals at underage level and we haven't seen that yet with the seniors."But I'm sure we will. He is a player who is capable of getting into the box from midfield and taking chances. "I like him. He has strength, ability on the ball, tackles well and has a wonderful engine."From his point of view, he really should have had more football played at this stage of his career. "I'm not being critical of Martin O'Neill by saying that. Martin has done a great job and has great players but from Colin's viewpoint, he should have been playing more. "But I'm delighted that he has got the chance to move toSunderland where he will play more often. "So far he has not started for them yet but the team are playing well and they are doing too well for changes to be made. "But it won't be long before he gets into that team. In general it is a good move for him at this stage of his career." That move may not have happened. Instead we could have seen Healy go to Leeds. For a week that seemed likelier but after one day's training at Elland Road, it became clear to the player, that Sunderland would be his choice. "They were always more interested," said Healy. "Leedswas only a trial. Sunderland gave me an offer." What they have also given him is a lifeline. So far his career has been a seemingly never ending game of frustration. With Ireland he always performed well, not least last July against Georgia when he was thrown into the midfield. "I was delighted to get my chance then," he said. "And surprised. But I survived it nicely and I wondered if my fitness would hold. It did. "I have no worries about my fitness for Saturday. Okay I may not have played too much football this season so far but I feel fresh."

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UNITEDAPPROACH: John O'Shea goes through his paces in training yesterday; LEAN& GREEN Colin Healy wants to play regularly in the Ireland side with Ian Harte and Matt Holland, inset,; OPPOSITE: Liam Miller has been able to claim a first team place at Celtic but can only make the Ireland Under 21s