Howard determined to lift FA Cup

Twelve months ago a mere telephone call from Manchester United was cause for celebration in the Tim Howard household – tomorrow he will walk away from the Millennium Stadium in bitter disappointment if he fails to become the first American to win the FA Cup.

It is a measure of the progress Howard has made since United first expressed their interest in the former MLS keeper-of-the-year that second is not considered good enough, either within the team or for it.

Even when Alex Ferguson coughed up £2.3m (€3.4m) to lure Howard across the Atlantic from the New York Metrostars last summer, few would have predicted he would become an automatic first-choice in his rookie season.

Howard’s arrival has forced Fabien Barthez and Ricardo through the Old Trafford exit door, while he has triumphed in his personal battle with Roy Carroll despite an anticipated late season dip in form.

So, tomorrow against Millwall, Howard will get the chance to go one better than fellow countryman John Harkes, who was part of the Sheffield Wednesday side defeated by Arsenal at Wembley 11 years ago.

“I could have played in New York for 10 years and at least I would have been able to say ‘Manchester United called me’,” he smiled.

“That would have been something in itself. But I guess the competitive streak takes over.

“It is not in my character to live with what you have. Once you get a taste, you want more.

“After the phone call, I wanted a work permit, after the work permit, I wanted to be in the squad, after I got in the squad I wanted to be in the team.

“Some people call it greed but it’s what any professional needs to drive them on.”

Howard freely admits he could not understand why United were interested in signing him, although it became apparent pretty soon.

After a couple of encouraging performances on the Red Devils’ pre-season US tour, the 25-year-old announced his arrival on English shores by denying Arsenal in a Community Shield penalty shoot-out.

Since then, apart from improving as a keeper, he has been exposed to the soap opera of the world’s biggest club.

Rows between the manager and major shareholder, a missed drugs test, the departure of a chief executive, his own battle with Tourette’s Syndrome. And that is before you even start to dissect a sorry season in the Premiership and Champions League.

“The good thing is that all the things that have gone on about United this year wasn’t over-dramatised within the club,” said Howard.

“I knew this club was so high-profile and I knew it would be the norm but everyone has been pretty level-headed about the season.

“We had the same attitude in the squad when we were going well in January to when we were having trouble.”

Win or lose tomorrow – and the reaction to defeat does not bear thinking about for a side who have been installed as the shortest-priced favourites for the domestic showpiece – Ferguson is already planning changes this summer.

Alan Smith is an almost certain arrival, but not for anything like the £10m (€14.9m) Leeds want for the England striker, while Argentine central defender Gabriel Heinze has been touted as a likely cure from some of United’s defensive frailties.

The Press Association understands United are keen to sign the 26-year-old international, who has the benefit of a German passport, although any deal will not be concluded until next week.

Both signings would place question marks over existing members of Ferguson’s squad.

Although the debates over the futures of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rio Ferdinand rumble on, Nicky Butt and Diego Forlan seem the most likely members of the party that flew down to Cardiff on Wednesday not to be around when the new campaign kicks off in August.

By then, United hope to be reflecting on the ease with which they disposed of Millwall to land a record 11th FA Cup triumph.

Victory is paramount, but one senses, after watching Arsenal march unbeaten to the title despite failing to win any of their four encounters with United this term, there is a steely determination within the Old Trafford camp to lay down a marker for the battles that lie ahead.

“We have to make a statement tomorrow,” said Howard.

“It would be that way anyway but because we haven’t won the Premiership or the Champions League, we really want to win the FA Cup.

“We would be hungry anyway but that is only intensified because we haven’t won anything else.

"Losing is something I am not even prepared to think about.”