David Healy impressed Lawrie Sanchez while playing for N Ireland

"I feel disappointed for David and I've always had sympathy for him. He scores a lot of goals for Northern Ireland and he does it consistently," said Bates.

"We can hardly expect him to perform at such a high level one week and then return to League One the next."

New Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez has long-been linked with a move for the 27-year-old international.

Sanchez knows Healy well from his time as Northern Ireland manager and is a big admirer of the striker, who has notched 29 goals in 56 games for his country.

However, he has failed to replicate his international heroics for Leeds.

The Elland Road outfit are working under a transfer embargo after going into administration at the start of May, which also prevents transfers out of the club.

And the Football League has confirmed that the embargo it imposed following the move into administration on 4 May is unlikely to be lifted until July.