Howard's progress surprises Ferguson

Rookie keeper Tim Howard has even stunned Alex Ferguson by the rate of his progress since moving to Manchester United.

Ferguson sprung a major surprise this summer when he pinpointed the 24-year-old US international as a potential transfer target.

Even when the Old Trafford boss paid £2.3m (€3.3m) for Howard, few thought he would win a regular place in the Red Devils’ starting line-up.

However, not only has the former Major League Soccer star achieved that feat, he has looked more likely than any of his predecessors to fill the massive void left when Peter Schmeichel retired in 1999.

In just over a month of first-team action, he has already kept four clean sheets, and collected his first winners’ medal after his penalty shoot-out heroics in the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff.

And, as Howard prepares to block out the Gunners again at Old Trafford tomorrow, Ferguson admitted at being astonished at the rate of his new keeper’s progress.

“Tim has caught everyone by surprise,” he said.

“We thought he might have taken a few months to get used to English football but he has been sensational.

“He pulled off a save on Tuesday night which was truly outstanding and we could not be more pleased with his progress.”

It was Panathinaikos striker Michalis Konstantinou who Howard denied with his magnificent full length stop during the first half of Tuesday’s 5-0 Champions League romp, a result in stark contrast to that of Arsenal, who suffered a 3-0 Highbury hiding by Inter Milan 24 hours later.

However, Ferguson, who has confirmed skipper Roy Keane will not require surgery on the ankle injury he sustained at Charlton last weekend, does not believe those results will have any bearing on tomorrow’s outcome.

“I was surprised at Wednesday’s result because you don’t expect Arsenal to lose that way,” admitted the United chief.

“Once they went two goals behind, it was always going to be difficult for them because they were chasing the game but I don’t see that result as having any significance tomorrow.

“People are saying they will be even more determined at Old Trafford, but there is only so much effort you can put into a match and I am sure they were determined on Wednesday.

“Our form has been good and the players deserved all the praise which came their way after Tuesday’s game.

“It was the best we have played this season and was the perfect scenario for me because having a 4-0 lead at half-time meant I was able to protect some of the players who were carrying little knocks by bringing them off quite early.”

Ferguson has doubts over Keane, John O’Shea, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mikael Silvestre and Nicky Butt, while Paul Scholes has already been ruled out as he tries to recover from the hernia problem which has already kept him out of the champions’ last three Barclaycard Premiership outings.

There is some good news for the Oldham-born midfielder though. He has continued to make progress this week and is now preparing to face the acid test that will determine whether or not he is forced to undergo surgery which could keep him out for up to two months, a period which includes England’s vital Euro 2004 qualifier with Turkey in Istanbul.

“We are hoping to get Paul back into training next week,” revealed Ferguson.

“That will be crucial in determining the next step. If he comes through it without a problem, it means we can look at getting him back into the team.”

With one win apiece and a 2-2 draw at Highbury from three competitive meetings, there was little to split the two sides last term, although United did the business when it mattered; at Old Trafford when they were falling behind in the title race and then in the capital last April when defeat would have shattered their championship dream.

If the early weeks of the campaign are anything to go by, it will be Arsenal who United will have to overcome if they are to retain their crown next May.

Already cemented in the top two with just a point between them, Ferguson would be happy to find himself in a similar position on New Year’s Day, irrespective of tomorrow’s outcome.

“That is when I start to look at things,” said Ferguson.

“Sometimes we have been two or three points behind, sometimes we have been in front but the main thing is to be there.

“You can’t say tomorrow’s game is crucial because it is so early in the season but hopefully we will get a result which will be significant when the medals are handed out.”