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.