Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed striker David Healy is due to undergo a medical at Sunderland on Thursday.

Healy has been offered an escape route by the Blacks Cats - who are managed by hisformer Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane - after failing to establish himself at Fulham.

The Cottagers paid Leeds £1.5million for the unsettled Northern Ireland marksman last summer and Hodgson admits he could be set to move on once again.

"If David has been spotted at Sunderland he didn't wear that disguise I told him to!" he said.

"It's no secret that Sunderland admire David and have talked about a transfer. He's up there for a medical today.

"We'll see what happens now but it's certainly a possibility the transfer could go through."

Andrew Johnson will miss Saturday's clash with Arsenal as he continues his rehabilitation from a thigh strain.

Johnson, a £10.5million summer arrival from Everton, missed the 2-1 defeat by Hull and his comeback has been earmarked for Bolton in three weeks.

"Andy's injury has improved immensely and he's quite close to full fitness. Clinically he's very close," said Hodgson.

"Due to the transfer taking a long time and Everton not using him in pre-season out of fear he might become injured, he hasn't had much chance to get match fit.

"The chances are that we will use the three week period we have between Arsenal and Bolton to make sure we get him in tip top condition.

"I'm very concerned that the season has just begun and there are 38 matches to be played.

"It's important for me to have Andy up, running and fit for most of those matches.

"I don't want to throw him in early because it's the tempting thing to do.

"As often happens with these type of injuries, the player gets back and there's a slight recurrence and he misses another couple of weeks.

"The season becomes very bitty and that would be a major error for the player and the club."

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