Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard will miss the next 4-6 weeks of action with a torn calf muscle in his left leg, according to a report on Goal.com on Monday.
The veteran United States national team netminder went down with the injury during Everton’s loss to Stoke City on Friday. Backup Joel Robles will fill in for Howard as the Toffees look to snap out of a slump that has seen them lose four of their past five matches.
Howard has largely avoided serious injuries throughout his career, most recently suffering two broken bones in his back during an Everton match in March 2013. That injury forced him out of action in England and for the US, who played CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico with backup Brad Guzan in net.
Howard, 35, is currently on a one-year sabbatical from international action and has been busy promoting his new memoir, discussing a wide range of topics with various media outlets. During one such interview with ABC News this week, Howard said he hopes to play for the US in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, even at the age of 40.
“My muscles will be much more unforgiving,” Howard said. “This group in 2014 inspired me to want to go to 2018 because the group was just amazing. The ride we went on was incredible and I want to be a part of that again, you know? It was special.”
