I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

Last updated : 20 July 2004 By editor
“Making my debut was a bit nerve-wracking,” says Howard.

“It was my first game and under really tough circumstances.”

”I definitely wouldn’t want to do it again. It would have been much easier if it was somewhere else and it wasn’t in my hometown. Thankfully things worked out well. Mentally it [this tour] should be a little bit easier and physically once I’ve had a rest I don’t see a problem. This time there won’t be the madness surrounding it and I’ll know what to expect.”

“I think you’re always going to have your die-hard soccer fans that will come out and support a tour like this and a club like Manchester United," he added.

"But I think last season’s tour did change the views of some people to an extent. The fact we could actually fill the stadiums and completely sell-out was a point proved in itself.”

“I think the games are important to the extent that a club of this magnitude never wants to be on the losing end of things, but at the same time I think we’ll use them to get fit and find our form. We have some very important games coming up very early on in the season such as the Champions League qualifier so, although winning is important, I’d say playing well is the priority.”