ON-LOAN striker David Healy has announced he wants to stay at Norwich but the news has not dampened the spirits at Deepdale after Eddie Lewis started a welcome return to goal scoring form for North End on Saturday.

Healy, Preston's most-expensive signing, joined the Canaries on a month's loan last Thursday, and was named man-of-the-match on his debut at the weekend.

The 23-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Deepdale this season. First the arrival of Ricardo Fuller pushed him down the pecking order, and more recently new signings Simon Lynch and George Koumantarakis have left Healy feeling out in the cold.

Speaking from Carrow Road, Healy said: "Preston seem to see this loan as a chance for me to boost my confidence but I feel it is more of a stepping stone.

"If I get on well and the clubs talk, I would be delighted."

However, North End insist that Healy is remaining a Lilywhite and will return by the end of February.

Healy has only scored five times this season, and cost £1.8million when David Moyes brought him in from Manchester United.

The one thing North End didn't struggle to do last weekend was score.

One of the best performances of the season so far not only lifted the fans' spirits, but gave manager Craig Brown the chance to say that his team can compete with the in-form sides in the division.

This weekend, North End play their third home game in three weeks, and will once again be looking for three points against Millwall.

Manager Brown said: "Saturday's performance was a good one, but we will continue to improve and climb the table. People shouldn't get carried away by one result."

Only Marlon Broomes collected an injury during the weekend, but the fact Adam Eaton has been allowed to return to Mansfield for a second loan spell indicates that Brown feels confident he has the defence slot -- where Broomes played on Saturday -- covered.

The temptation for Brown will be to field the same team on Saturday, especially with the partnership of Brian O'Neil and Paul McKenna in midfield lighting up.

Six North End players have received international call-ups this week. Reserve keeper Andrew Lonergan goes in for England's U20 game, Graham Alexander for Scotland, Simon Lynch for the Scottish U21 side, Colin Murdock and David Healy play for Northern Ireland while George Koumantarakis will join up with the South Africa side.