TIM HOWARD believes Everton now  have the rhythm and passing game to  start challenging the Premier League  front-runners on regular basis.

Howard described the Goodison outfit as ‘already starting to roll’ following their impressive defeat of  Manchester United on Monday night.

It was only the fourth time in 11  years that Everton, notorious for being  slow out of the blocks, have won an  opening game under David Moyes.

The win extended their unbeaten  league record to 10 games and continued their fine form from the end of  the previous campaign.

And Howard, who starred at Old  Trafford between 2003 and 2006, is convinced he has seen signs that Everton  are able to echo the template of the  most successful teams.

“We have always played from a good  foundation,” said the goalkeeper. “We  have tried to get rhythm early on the  season – that’s how the top teams stay  on top, they have good passing and  rhythm and that never goes away from  them.

“Against United that’s the best we  have looked from a football standpoint,  particularly on our left-hand side. I  thought we were immense.

“That part of the game isn’t  something we have always had in  abundance. We’ve always been able to  play on the knock and get up on to  teams, but our passing against United  was really, really good.

“It’s easier to get into a rhythm with  your season when that’s how you are  playing.”

Howard added: “I think it’s a good  thing having that rhythm. That  rhythm is important and it’s about  how you can it find it.

“We seem to find it after  Christmas every year and it’s  been really, really good for us,  but we are already starting to  roll.

“Pre-season was better than  most, and all those things  have been key to where we are  right now.