Fulham manager Roy Hodgson last night confirmed David Healy’s worst fears when he revealed that the Northern Ireland scoring sensation is facing long spells on the bench this season.

Hodgson has spent over £16million on two strikers this summer, with Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson arriving at Craven Cottage and they will be the manager’s preferred partnership.

And Healy has suffered a further set-back with the manager taking the number nine shirt off him and handing it to Zamora instead, while the number 10 shirt worn by Steve Davis last season has now gone to Erik Nevland — another Hodgson signing.

Healy has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, but has always said he is happy at Fulham having signed from Leeds United last year, but that may now change with two weeks of the transfer window remaining

"I can understand links being made because David Healy didn't feature very much

last season and he didn't feature very much in the pre-season games,” said Hodgson.

"It's fairly obvious to everyone that having paid the money we've paid for Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson that they will be the first two centre-forwards.”

Ironically Johnson is likely to miss this weekend’s Premier League opener against Hull City, which may hand Healy a chance.