Healy is free to go on loan BRADFORD City and Port Vale are interested in taking Barnsley midfielder Colin Healy on loan. Former Republic of Ireland international Healy is being released from Oakwell, initially for a month. The 26-year-old, signed after the first match of the season, has yet to start a league game for Barnsley. Meanwhile Barnsley have stepped up their search for a striker. Manager Andy Ritchie headed up a scouting mission yesterday, watching a centre forward, who the club have not named. Marc Richards was the last striker to score for Barnsley. He netted in the 2-2 draw with Plymouth, four games and three weeks ago. Fan's favourite forward Daniel Nardiello has not made the starting 11 for Barnsley so far this season. He played an hour for the reserves on Monday in the 2-1 win over Shrewsbury. Nardiello will be on the bench for Saturday's Championship game at Birmingham City with Ritchie choosing his front two from Richards, Tommy Wright and Paul Hayes. Birmingham face Liverpool tonight in a Carling Cup fourth round clash. Manager Steve Bruce is contemplating resting several players for the tie. Bruce wants desperately to avenge the 7-0 mauling by Liverpool in the FA Cup eight months ago but is mindful of his club's recent heavy schedule. He left out key performers Nicklas Bendtner, who is on loan from Arsenal, Gary McSheffrey and Stephen Clemence for the previous round when City won 4-2 at Sheffield United. Birmingham responded with a 2-0 win over West Brom and a 1-0 victory at Plymouth and Bruce goes into tonight's game with one eye on Saturday's encounter with Barnsley. Defender Martin Taylor and keeper Maik Taylor may be the only survivors from the 7-0 defeat who will line-up against Rafael Benitez's side this evening.
