Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, a prized asset at international level, is enduring a nightmare season at Craven Cottage, having been frozen out by new boss Roy Hodgson.

And last night Killyleagh-born Healy admitted he is keeping his options open regarding a move away from the club owned by Harrods chief Mohamed Al Fayed.

Healy started the season in a blaze of glory, scoring in the first two Premier League games, but since then he has only added two further goals to his tally and featured as a bit part player.

His time at Fulham reached an all-time low last weekend when he didn't even feature in Hodgson's 16-man squad who recorded a rare 2-1 win over high flying Aston Villa. Nor was he in the squad for yesterday's match.

The omission and purchase of new strikers during the transfer window has prompted many fans and Healy himself to question his future at Fulham - a club he only signed for last summer after then boss Lawrie Sanchez bought him from Leeds United for £1.5m.

Already Championship club Sheffield Wednesday have expressed an interest while Sunday Life understands mega rich Queen's Park Rangers are following Healy's developments at Craven Cottage closely and want him on loan.

Watford, Charlton Athletic, Ipswich and Norwich will also join the race to sign the ace marksman.

Healy said last night: "I was happy to be on Northern Ireland duty this week, I enjoy it given that I mightn't be getting as many games or minutes playing at Fulham as I'd have hoped.

"In international games you're always in the shop window, whether you're settled at a club or not there's always bigger and better things.

"You never know who's watching games, so it's up to me to go out and perform. As I say, you never know who's out there watching you."

Healy has struggled this season to cement a starting position in Fulham's team - even under Lawrie Sanchez, the 28 year-old was not assured of his place up front.

Indeed all the Northern Ireland recruits - Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes and Steve Davis before he left for Rangers - have been in and out of the side.

Healy's days at Craven Cottage look numbered, but the 28-year-old remains confident in his own ability to perform in the Premier League and believes he is the top striker at the struggling club.

"I'm No. 1," declared the record goalscorer in a European qualifying campaign.

"I still believe I'm the best striker at Fulham, maybe the fans and the manager might beg to differ but I believe I'm as good as the players we've got.

"The manager has brought a lot of players in - Eddie Johnson, Jari Litmanen and possibly even Daniel Cousins.

"Brian McBride and Diomansy Kamara are returning from injury so you're talking about six or seven strikers at the club and possibly at the minute I'm seventh choice.

"That's not my opinion, because if you don't believe you're good enough to be playing you might as well be seventh choice in your own mind.

"It's a difficult situation. I've spoken to the manager, who assures me that I'm still part of his plans at Fulham.

"He says he'll keep me updated on his plans for me and as a player you want to be playing in all the games, you want to go in and prove that you're good enough to get a place in the side or in the squad."

Healy concedes that Fulham fans are expecting him to recreate his amazing international goalscoring form in the Premier League.

They have watched over the years as Healy has scored incredible, game winning goals against the top sides from all over the world.

Naturally, they fail to understand why Healy isn't able to reproduce his magic for their beloved club.

"The fans are expecting to see David Healy the Northern Ireland striker. They want to see the guy who is scoring goals every other game for Northern Ireland. They want him to score goals every other game for Fulham.

"They wonder why my record of scoring at club level is not as good as it is at international level, and I don't understand it either.

"I try not to think or worry about it, I just seem to do it differently from some other players.

"Some guys in England score goals for their clubs yet can't seem to score at international level, and England have far better players than we do.

"There are numerous examples of strikers who are like that but I seem to be the opposite, for whatever reason."

Healy now just wants to play football - whether that's out on loan at a new club or with Fulham remains to be seen.

But he's put himself in the shop window - I'm sure a few clubs like what they see!