'The rest has definitely helped me,' said Howard, 'no player will ever go to the manager and say he needs some time off but I guess it is part of his job to know when players need a rest. He is a good man-manager and whatever the motivation behind his decision it has worked because I feel good now.'
'I knew there was a month to go before the Cup Final and there were a lot of things to get through, I just needed to get my mind right and my body back together. For any player moving abroad, the first year is always difficult. I have learned a lot of things this season and hopefully the next one will be easier.'