Howard can obtain hero status

Manchester United’s all-American hero Tim Howard is ready to man the barricades on Sunday as Arsene Wenger’s Gunners attempt to storm the Old Trafford fortress.

The rookie keeper has already made a big impression on the Barclaycard Premiership just two months after completing his shock move from the US-based Major Soccer League.

Under the watchful eye of Red Devils’ legend Peter Schmeichel, Howard took another step towards his full integration into United culture with a competent Champions League debut against Panathinaikos on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old dealt with the few threats on his goal with comfort and produced one outstanding stop to deny Michalis Konstantinou during the first half.

But while Howard has shown true signs that, at the seventh attempt, Alex Ferguson has finally found Schmeichel’s successor, the New Jersey-born giant has not abandoned his roots completely.

Any doubts over the country of his origin are quickly dispelled by the language he uses as he looks ahead to Arsenal’s eagerly-anticipated visit.

“Arsenal are coming into our house and we have to stop them from taking it,” he said.

“We got ahead of them in the Community Shield and they will be hungry to avenge that.

“They also have one of the most talented strikeforces in the game, so they will come at us all guns blazing.

“I’m sure people will say it is my biggest test but I will just try to prepare as normal.”

Punters could be forgiven for thinking they were about to attend an NFL game having read Howard’s thoughts, although there is little doubt Arsenal will be desperate for a victory.

After seeing what they considered to be a title already won snatched from their grasp at the end of last season, the Gunners have been simmering throughout the summer and even Wenger reached boiling point in Cardiff when Howard became the hero of United’s shoot-out win.

That match was memorable for the confrontation between Sol Campbell and Eric Djemba-Djemba which has landed the Arsenal defender with a violent conduct charge and followed on from the most recent league meeting between the sides which saw Campbell dismissed for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the face.

Given the two sides’ dominance of the English game in recent times, it is hardly surprising there are potential flashpoints at every turn and, while it is far too early for the match to have any major significance on the overall title race, the desire for superiority should ensure another feisty encounter this weekend.

Howard though is happy to be on the United side of the red fence and is already acutely aware of the extent of the talent he now shares a dressing room with.

“The manager has told me every time I get the ball I need to look up and give it to someone quickly,” he said.

“Ole and Cristiano Ronaldo want it wide, where they are very dangerous, while if you can get it to either Ruud van Nistelrooy or Ryan Giggs, you know when they go to work they can hurt teams as well.”

With Ricardo now trying to resurrect his career back in Spain, Howard has already beaten off one of his three challengers to the coveted number one slot.

For all Ferguson’s soothing words, Fabien Barthez no longer appears to have a future at the club, while Roy Carroll might be an able deputy but doesn’t have the talent to hold down a regular position at a club pursuing silverware at home and abroad.

The indications are that Howard is destined for a lengthy stint in the United goal, although, even with four clean sheets and one winners’ medal behind him already, he is refusing to get carried away.

“I have been given a wonderful opportunity but I just want to try and keep things in perspective,” he said.

“I sometimes have to remind myself that I am only 24 and I still have a lot to learn.

“I am enjoying myself a lot and winning definitely makes it easier but all I want to do at the moment is try to work hard and become more consistent. A good performance followed by a bad one is not good for you.”