Barthez hands shirt to Howard

AMERICAN rookie Tim Howard looks set to make his Barclaycard Premiership debut at Old Trafford tomorrow and Manchester United probably do not know how lucky they are.

Not only was the 24-year-old told not to play in goal as a youngster by his mother, he could also have been a prized asset of Manchester City.

A poor display from Fabien Barthez in Wednesday’s 3-1 friendly defeat at Stoke has almost certainly handed Howard his opportunity when United open the defence of their Premiership crown against Bolton at the weekend.