DAVID Healy has been urged to give himself a future at Deepdale -- even though he faces competition from up to five other strikers for a starting place.

And Craig Brown has sent the same message to his other players who went out on loan at the end of the season, i nsisting healthy competition within the Deepdale camp can only be a good thing.

There has been much speculation about former Manchester United youngster David Healy's future following his three-month spell at the Canaries.

Healy had a difficult season at North End, struggling to find the sort of form which made him a £1.5million signing by David Moyes in the first, before travelling down to Norfolk.

The Northern Irish star had expressed interest in staying at Carrow Road, but Norwich boss Nigel Worthington passed up the opportunity to sign up Healy.

And Brown said: "David didn't get to play in their last few games and he is now back with us. I hope he is motivated and sees his future at Preston."

With Brown-signing Simon Lynch, youngster Pawel Abbott and established strikers Richard Cresswell and Ricardo Fuller all fighting for a berth up front, Healy faces a battle to climb up the pecking order.

And that battle could become signifcantly more tricky if George Koumantarakis signs on the dotted line at Deepdale.

The South African has been given until the end of June to decide if he wants to stay at the club, following his move from FC Basle earlier in the year.

Brown revealed: "He has until the end of June to decide. I've got a sneaking feeling he'll agree to stay here. That's just the impression I am getting at the moment.

"Competition for places is healthy and good for us as a whole. All the players have a chance to be part of the team, and get involved in competition for places."

Iain Anderson, who has been on loan at Tranmere, Mark Rankine, who played in the play-off final with Sheffield Utd, Michael Keane, who went to Grimsby, and Tepi Moilanen, who was up at Hearts, are all back at the club.

And Brown expects them to still be there when the new season starts.

He said: "There has been absolutely no contact about any of my players. Michael Keane has turned down a move to Grimsby to stay here, which I think is because we are in a higher league. They all have futures here."