SOCCER Manchester United eyes American goalie

The English-champion team is interested in the MetroStars' Tim Howard.
LYON, France (AP) -- While Manchester United is losing David Beckham to Real Madrid, the English-champion team could be getting Tim Howard for next season.
Manchester United's interest in Howard, the 24-year-old goalkeeper who plays for the MetroStars in Major League Soccer, means that he has a big spotlight on him at the Confederations Cup heading into the U.S. opener against Turkey on Thursday.
"It would be a tremendous challenge if, in fact, something were to happen," Howard said Tuesday, sitting on a sofa in the lobby of the U.S. team's hotel after practice. "I feel like I'm challenged all the time. Until I'm shutting every team out every week, I feel like there's a challenge, whether it's in New York or here with the national team or even in Europe. Obviously, in certain places the stakes are higher, and that's great. So I guess the challenge would be higher."
Emulation
Howard, 6-foot-3 and a slim 200 pounds, wants to emulate the goalkeepers ahead of him on the national team. Brad Friedel, the starter at last year's World Cup, plays for Blackburn in England and this season became the first American picked for the Premier League All-Star team. Kasey Keller, the starter at the 1998 World Cup, plays for Tottenham Hotspur.
Fabien Barthez, the starter for Manchester United and France's national team, was criticized for allowing some bad goals last season. Manchester United and MLS, which owns Howard's rights, haven't commented on the ongoing talks. Howard hasn't spoken with the team, instead letting the team talk with the league and his agent, Dan Segal.
"I get filled in on things I need to know about," Howard said. "I don't need those type of things right now. I just go and play. It seems too simple, but it really is -- just play."
Bypassed NCAA soccer
Howard is among the first generation of American players who have skipped NCAA soccer and turned pro at an early age. A native of North Brunswick, N.J., who now lives in Kearny, he was with the U.S. Under-17 team in 1995, Under-20 team in 1999 and Olympic team in 2000.
He joined the MetroStars when he was 17 under the league Project 40 youth development program, turning down approaches from Clemson, Rutgers and UCLA, and made his MLS debut in 1998, a 4-1 win over Colorado.
His promise caused the MetroStars to trade former national team goalkeeper Tony Meola to Kansas City. Howard became the club's starter in 2001, earning honors as the league's top goalkeeper. He made his debut with the national team in a 1-0 win over Ecuador last year and has made a total of six international appearances.
"He's definitely kept us in a bunch of games," MetroStars teammate Clint Mathis said. "As good as he is, he's only going to get better. It's going to be tough if we lose him, but it's well deserved."
Caution ahead
A move to a big club has potential dangers. Landon Donovan found that out when he signed with Germany's Bayer Leverkusen four years ago, at age 16, and didn't get into a single Bundesliga game with the team. By 2001, he forced a move to MLS.
"The goalkeepers that don't play have a tough time improving." U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "If this eventual transfer to Man. U. happens and Tim never steps on the field again, I don't think that is going to help his progress. However, my guess is that the reason Man. U. is acquiring Tim is because they see the potential there. In their minds, they are going to try to get Tim on the field and move him forward. "
Arena said last week he's not certain Friedel or Keller will be the primary goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup, when they'll be 36 or 35. That leaves opportunities for Howard and the other goalkeepers in the U.S. pool.
"I don't know what it would be like to overtake one of those guys. I'm just trying to battle and fight and scrap and learn from them," Howard said.
He isn't sure Arena really means what he said.
"The door can be open and cracked," Howard said, laughing, "it doesn't mean it's open."