Americans Abroad

Howard will be given chance to play before EPL season ends.

(Tuesday, April 13, 2004) -- Roy Carroll is clearly Manchester United's starting goalkeeper, but American Tim Howard shouldn't be packing his gloves just yet.

United manager Alex Ferguson plans on playing Howard in net before the English Premier League season ends.

Howard last played March 14 in a humiliating 4-1 loss at crosstown rival Manchester City, five days after United crashed out of the European Champions League Round of 16 to Porto of Portugal. Howard gave up a bad rebound that allowed Porto to score the decisive goal in the final moments of the home leg of the two-match series.

Ferguson replaced Howard, 25, presumably to give him a chance to rejuvenate his spirit and possibly as a challenge to spark him to play better. Carroll, however, has seized the opportunity, including posting a clean sheet in tonight's 1-0 home triumph over Leicester City before 67,749 at Old Trafford.

"I want to be out there playing, but there is a time and place for everything," Howard told Manchester Online. "It's difficult to watch from the side at any time. You always want to be playing, or at least I know I do, but you have to give Roy credit he has done well and he certainly deserves the opportunity to play. I knew he was capable of that. I train with him every day and he has put in some good performances."

Since Carroll took over in net, United is 3-0-1 in the Premier League with the only blemish a 1-1 draw with league-leading Arsenal. More importantly, Carroll recorded a shutout in Man. U's 1-0 victory April 3 over Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals. In five outings, Carroll allowed two goals.

"It is a difficult decision for me, given that Tim Howard has had a great season," Ferguson told Manchester Online. "It is not an easy one. But the important thing for Roy Carroll's part is that he has done really well for us and Tim got a welcome break at the right time. It might not necessarily have been the right time for him but I think it was needed and Roy has responded very, very well."

An FA Cup championship would be the highlight of an otherwise disappointing season, at least by United standards. Man. U. (21-6-5, 68 points) is third in league play, 10 points behind Arsenal, along with its early elimination in the Champions League.

With six matches remaining before the season ends May 15, there is no reason not to give Howard some playing time and Ferguson held open the possibility of Howard starting in the FA Cup final May 22 against Millwall at Cardiff. Carroll "has proved to be a very capable goalkeeper," Ferguson told Manchester Online. "He has had a terrific spell. So I have that dilemma of who should play in the final."

Howard has vowed to fight for his job. "Goalkeepers are different in that you have to train with your immediate competitor every day and at close quarters," he said. "We compete and we get after it and it is up to the manager to make a decision. Of course I want to get back in, of course I want to play at Cardiff, but I am delighted we got there and I am sure we will go to Cardiff with high expectations and high hopes. The FA Cup final is a big deal and if I can be part of a side which wins the Cup in my first year, then that is important."

Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes' managing editor. E-mail Gary Davidson.