Man of the week: Healy the hero of Belfast enjoys the fame game

In the path of Pele

Not many of the current Leeds United side are mentioned in the same breath as Pele, but after his two goals against Sweden on Wednesday David Healy heads the Euro 2008 qualifiers goal table with nine out of Northern Ireland's 10 in six games and, like Pele, is his country's all-time leading goalscorer, albeit with 29 in 56 games as against Pele's 77 in 92.

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Wall-to-wall approval

Despite hat-tricks against Spain last year and Liechtenstein eight days ago, the goal that indelibly endeared the 27-year-old to his countrymen was the only score in the 1-0 defeat of England in 2005, a strike celebrated by a mural on Belfast's Albertbridge Road.

Names of the game

His nicknames make up in quantity for what they lack in originality: take your pick from Super Sub, Sir David, The Matador, The Hobbit and The Talisman. He chose the last sobriquet as the name of his clothing range, which is flying off the hangers in Belfast.

Lighting-up time

Although he was once on Manchester United's books, appearing three times for the first team as a substitute, he has a little way to go before he challenges the earning power of Wayne Rooney (£8.5m a year). Still, the awards and personal appearances are starting to flow: in December he was named All-Ireland Sports Star of the Year, and Belfast Council chose him to turn on the Christmas lights.

Lifeline for Leeds

Healy's scoring record in the Championship this season - nine goals in 36 games, 10 as a substitute - has failed to match his international exploits, but on Friday night he popped up to score a 90th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory at home to Preston which could be crucial to Leeds' relegation struggle. Whatever the outcome, though, he may not be at Elland Road much longer; he has attracted the attention of, among a number of others, the manager of Rangers, Walter Smith.