COLIN Healy is set to make a remarkable football comeback after a two-year injury lay-off by playing for the Sunderland Reserves later this month.
The Black Cats midfielder has been out of action since December 2003 after breaking his leg in two places and then suffering the agony of breaking a leg again when he neared a comeback.
The former Celtic man had his leg fractured in a Championship g
ame at Coventry more than two years ago, and then just as he was nearing a comeback it happened again, in a training session.
It has looked many times as though Healy was finished and it was only a few months ago that he needed a knee operation after having another setback.
It has been a long road to recovery for the Republic of Ireland international who was one of McCarthy's first signings at Sunderland.
But he is now set to try his hand at playing competitive football again and he could yet be able to continue a professional football career.
Mick McCarthy said: "It's fantastic to see him back out there. He trained yesterday in a full-sided game.
"He's still not fully at it, he won't be going into any full-blown tackles yet, but in terms of his overall play and movement it was great to see him out there.
"It'll be a couple of weeks before we see him in a game but he's getting there."
Healy's contract at Sunderland was up last summer and the club has since handed him a month-to-month deal, giving him the chance to prove his fitness.
McCarthy has said that he will re-assess the midfielder's position at the club once he has proved he is capable of full fitness.
Cork-born Healy, 25, made 20 appearances for Sunderland before his injury problems started and was regarded as a key figure by the manager in terms of the club getting promoted.
It will be one of the most remarkable comebacks of recent times if the Irishman is fit enough to help plot Sunderland's promotion from the Championship next season.
