Nigel Worthington says David Healy's lack of action for Fulham will not stop him from being the first name on the Northern Ireland team sheet.Healy has found himself out of favour at Craven Cottage for much of the season but he will once again be the main man when Northern Ireland take on Georgia at Windsor Park on Wednesday night.

Healy broke Davor Suker's 12-year European Championships qualifying record in the last campaign as his 13 strikes brought Nigel Worthington's men to within a whisker of making it to Austria and Switzerland this summer.

UEFA president Michel Platini will be in Belfast to present Healy with a special award to recognise his feat in front of goal.

And the former France star has said the record will be difficult to top.

Platini explained: "The outstanding performance of David Healy in the qualifying competition of the European Championships and his tally of 13 goals is a new record and deserves to be recognised.

"I'm sure that this record will last for some time to come and will be hard to beat.

"This is why I will be presenting him with a special award to celebrate his fantastic achievement."

Worthington is not too concerned about Healy's lack of first team opportunities at Fulham but he has admitted Northern Ireland cannot afford to leave him out of their side when the World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September - even if he his still out of favour at club level.

The former Norwich manager explained: "David fully deserves his award after the number of goals he scored.

"If a striker from a bigger country had done what David has achieved then people would have been shouting it from the roof-tops but he hasn't got the coverage he deserves.

"In an ideal world I want all my players to be playing regularly for their clubs but as long as they keep their fitness and mental attitude right they should not be a million miles away."

Fulham are struggling to retain their Barclays Premier League status but Worthington added: "Even if David is not in his club side in September I still won't leave him out because he is a goalscorer and vital to everything we do."

After four early withdrawals from the squad, Worthington is down to the bare bones and three players - Alan Mannus, Michael Gault and Peter Thompson -

were due to be playing for their Irish League side tonight.

Gareth McAuley was carrying a knock but has trained twice and his likely to start against the Georgians.

Worthington knows there is nothing riding on this game but is demanding a much improved performance from last month's defeat to Bulgaria.

The manager continued: "I see every game as important and the players know that.

"Training has been high tempo and that is exactly how we will approach this game, I want the players to really get their teeth into this.

"If we can start the game with that high tempo and get the supporters behind us that is what I want.

"I want to win every game, as do the players, but this will also be an opportunity to try new personnel.

"The players have had a long, hard season but they understand they have a job to do here.

"Everything is about getting ready for the World Cup qualifiers in September and this match and the game in Scotland will be vital to our preparations."

Worthington has also urged Rangers midfielder Steven Davis to continue his outstanding club form on the international stage.

"Steve Davis has been fantastic since he moved to Rangers. I've seen him a few times and I'm not surprised he is already collecting man of the match awards.

"I would say the 45 minutes he played against Bulgaria last month was the best he's performed

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