Howard could be back at Man U next season
Alex Ferguson has revealed Tim Howard could still have a future at
Manchester United.
When he loaned the United States keeper out to Everton for the
season, then did a deal with West Brom that will eventually lead to
the permanent signing of Tomasz Kuszczak, it looked like Ferguson
felt Howards time at Old Trafford was at an end.
Although the 27-year-old was an instant hit following his arrival
from Major League Soccer outfit New York Metrostars in 2003, he
subsequently made a series of high-profile mistakes in big games
and spent virtually all of last season on the bench as understudy
to Edwin van der Sar.
However, since arriving on Merseyside, Howards form has
returned.
He will lose his ever-present record on Wednesday when Everton
visit United due to the rules preventing loan signings appearing
against their parent clubs.
But he has already provided Ferguson with some evidence he could
have a future with the Red Devils after all.
Tim has been doing really well at Everton, which is what we hoped
for, said Ferguson.
The potential has always been there because he has great
elasticity, he is brave, has a good spring and is an excellent
distributor of the ball. All he needed was the experience, and now
he is getting it. I have spoken to David Moyes and he is delighted
at how Tim has been playing. But it is certainly a possibility he
could come back to us, no question about that.
With Howard consigned to the stands, Richard Wright will come into
the Everton starting line-up.
Star striker Andrew Johnson is also missing with a hamstring injury
but United duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha are also facing a
battle for fitness.
Both men limped off before the end of Sundays draw with Chelsea,
leaving Ferguson facing a potential striking nightmare.
Even though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Park Ji-sung are set to return
to training this week, neither can be considered after long
absences with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, while Alan
Smith hardly appears fit enough to start after being put on a
personal fitness regime.
It could leave former Everton star Wayne Rooney as Fergusons only
recognised orthodox striker, emphasising a lack of depth to the
squad which has been highlighted by some as one of Uniteds major
disadvantages in their title duel with Chelsea.
Ryan Giggs could be pressed into an emergency forward role in a
game which tends to be hard fought and which Everton boast a decent
record having drawn at Old Trafford for the past two seasons.
However, as Giggs is only too aware, having established a
three-point lead at the Premiership summit the Red Devils can
hardly afford to slip up now.
It is a local derby and it is always a tight game, the Wales
skipper told MUTV.
But we need to keep the consistency going because if we are going
to win the league, we have to be beating teams like Everton at
home. Our performances over the last few weeks have been really
good and we can approach the game with confidence. If we produce
our best form, hopefully it will be enough to get us the three
points.