Tim Howard waits on finger injury

Sep 11 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Tim Howard (158)

TIM HOWARD will today discover if his dislocated finger could keep him out of Saturday’s showdown with former club Manchester United.

The goalkeeper suffered the injury while playing for the United States in their 4-2 friendly defeat to Brazil on Sunday night.

Howard arrived back in England yesterday evening and will return to Bellefield this morning, where Everton’s medical staff will determine the extent of the damage.

The 28-year-old was able to play on in the game after receiving treatment, but the injury means he must be considered doubtful for the weekend Goodison clash against United.

It means Stefan Wessels, who recently joined from FC Cologne, is on standby for his Premier League debut.

“Tim has injured his finger and we don’t know much about it,” said Everton’s head of physio Mick Rathbone. “Obviously with the time differences and everything we are collating all the information.

“We don’t know how bad it is but we are expecting further information.”

Before heading back to Merseyside yesterday, Howard said of his dislocated finger: “It is pretty sore. I just tried to play through it and hoped the adrenalin would get me through.

“Right now it’s swollen like a balloon, and I’m hoping that the flight back doesn’t take too much out of it.”