David Healy celebrates after one of his 35 goals for N Ireland

Sunderland striker David Healy has hit out at Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington after he criticised the fitness of his players.

Healy has rarely featured for the Black Cats and he now fears for his place in the NI team with Kyle Lafferty and Martin Patterson scoring at club level.

"Nigel basically blamed the players (after the 2-0 defeat by Hungary) which was disappointing," he said.

"If the axe is going to come down on me it's down to Nigel."

Worthington focused on his team's fitness for the 2-0 friendly defeat by the Hungarians at Windsor Park last month.

"They need to do more work - it is as simple as that," he said.

"I cannot do anything, it is down to the players. Some of them are not getting regular games and they have got out of the mindset.

"They have got to go back to their clubs and do extra work because they are not fit enough."

Healy told the Belfast Telegraph his move to the Stadium of Light from Fulham in a £1m deal in August has been a "disappointment".

I have proved in the past that I can come back and play for Northern Ireland David Healy

However, he has no regrets about the move and is determined to succeed at the Premiership club.

Healy was not happy with Worthington's remarks and he knows his place as the spearhead of N Ireland's attack is not guaranteed.

"There were five or six of us who weren't playing regularly," he added.

"If Nigel wants to make a point coming into the qualifiers where if club players aren't in the team and leave me out that comes down to him to make the big decisions at the tight times.

"I have proved in the past that I can come back and play for Northern Ireland.

"People forget that I'd a lot of tough times, a lot of games where I wasn't 100% fit."

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