Football
Doug McIntyre, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Tim Howard not guaranteed to start upon return to U.S. - Jurgen Klinsmann

CHESTER, Pa. -- U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann offered no guarantee that World Cup hero goalkeeper Tim Howard will return to the national team in September.

Howard hasn't played for the American squad in more than a year, since his famous performance in the Americans'  2-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 last summer in Brazil.

After the tournament, Howard announced that he -- with Klinsmann's blessing -- would take a one-year hiatus from international play to spend more time his children.

Last week, Howard confirmed that he would make himself available for the Yanks' high-profile September friendlies against Peru and Brazil. But when Klinsmann was asked directly by ESPN FC if Howard would be called in, he would not confirm that the 36-year-old will be back.

"I will have a talk with Tim," Klinsmann said on Saturday, after the Americans' penalty-kick loss to Panama in the Gold Cup third-place match at PPL Park in suburban Philadelphia.

Brad Guzan, Howard's longtime backup who Klinsmann had named as the U.S. starter before the regional championship, drew praise from the coach after his performance in Saturday's match.

Guzan, 30, saved nine shots from open play and another in the shootout.

"Brad kept us in the game with a couple of tremendous saves," Klinsmann said. "I will have a phone call with Tim probably next week, and then also with Brad, and see how we want to move forward."

Guzan and Howard are close friends. Both play in the Premier League: Guzan with Aston Villa, Howard with Everton. The younger man said their relationship won't change whatever Klinsmann decides.

"It's always been a battle -- when you're a goalkeeper, only one of you can play," Guzan said of the competition between the two. "We both want to play. That's not a secret. It's plain and simple. You don't become a professional by wanting to become a No. 2."

And if he keeps the No. 1 job full-time, Guzan insisted that he will be ready.

"I'm hopefully coming into the best years of my life in terms of goalkeeping-wise," he said. "I feel confident. I'm excited about the future."

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