Everton FC player Tim Howard
EVERTON have been dealt a huge blow after it was revealed Tim Howard is facing at least a month on the sidelines with two broken bones in his back.
The USA international goalkeeper suffered the injury in a collision during the victory over Oldham in the previous round of the FA Cup, and Jan Mucha will deputise for him against Wigan Athletic in today’s quarter final.
Howard’s complaint is similar to that of Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini who has been ruled out for between three and seven weeks.
David Moyes hopes his first-choice goalkeeper has an outside chance of being fit to return for the home clash with Stoke City on March 30, but is taking nothing for granted with the painful nature of the injury.
He said: “We don’t think he will be out for the season. We are not sure how long he will be out because obviously with a goalkeeper he has to dive around and hit the ground. He did incredibly well to finish the Oldham game.
“It might be if everything goes well, he could miss next week’s game as well but then because of the international break he might be close after the rest because that would be four weeks.”
“It is similar to Coloccini. He has two fractures, but they are not the bones which are supporting anything, it is off the spine. They are not weight bearing. It just needs a bit of healing time.
“It is not like a pure fracture where need to wait to look at it. It is a question of whether he can cope with the pain.
“The bones will heal themselves. It’s not good.”
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