David Healy signs for Doncaster on loan from Sunderland

Healy has failed to make an impact since his move to Sunderland in 2008

Sunderland striker David Healy has signed for Championship side Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan deal.

The 31-year-old Northern Ireland international, signed by Roy Keane in August 2008, has not featured this season for Steve Bruce's side.

Healy, who went out on loan to Ipswich last season and was linked with a move to Rangers in the summer, has been keen to move on for quite a while.

Healy will go straight into the squad for Saturday's game against Millwall.

"This was on the horizon for a while but I have had an ankle injury for a couple of weeks since the last Northern Ireland game," Healy told BBC Sport.

"I'm looking forward to it and meeting new people.

"The manager (Sean O'Driscoll) seems as if he wants to move the club forward.

"Hopefully over the next three or four weeks, I can get some sharpness, some fitness and game time and get back to the player that I know I still am."

The former Preston North End, Leeds United and Fulham player, who started his career as a youth team player with Manchester United, will join up with fellow Northern Ireland forward Dean Shiels at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Healy, who has scored just one goal in the last 19 months, has a career record at club level of 91 in 377 games.

But the 5ft 6in striker, whose only three appearances this season have come for his country, can still boast a prolific record at international level.

Healy has hit 35 in 84 international appearances, the most memorable of which was the winner against England at Windsor Park back in 2005.