‘Delighted’ Howard seals Toffees deal

TIM HOWARD refuses to look back on his difficult days at Manchester United now he has committed himself to a five-year contract at Everton.

Howard found himself forced into the background at Old Trafford, before joining Everton on loan at the beginning of this season.

When that loan ends in the summer, Howard will start a new phase of his career — having sealed a £3million (€4.4m) permanent move to Merseyside — and he has only got eyes for the future.

“The time was right to do this,” he said, “The Manchester United chapter is over, and now I have a new one just beginning.

“I am happy that it is all done and I can look to the future. I have been doing that anyway. But it’s really nice to just get my head down and know that it is sorted, and we can keep going forward.

“It is a fantastic club. Obviously Manchester United is a wonderful club too. It just happened that the time was right to do this. I am delighted.”

“We want to win every game — you do not always achieve that, but as long as we battle together then the fans will be happy.