Everton, USA star goalkeeper Tim Howard out injured for six weeks

Everon goalkeeper Tim Howard will be spending the next few months on the sidelines.

Howard, 35, pulled his calf muscle in Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City on Boxing Day, as the U.S. international will now be out until February after missing most of the busy festive period.

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On Tuesday Toffees boss Roberto Martinez confirmed to the media that Howard will be out for an extended period of time.

“Tim Howard is going to be out for 5-6 weeks,” Martinez confirmed. “He has picked up an injury to his left calf and that is something, for a goalkeeper, that is really, really unusual. It happened just kicking the ball against Stoke at home and he will be out for that period.”

Howard had to leave the Boxing Day clash at half time, with Joel Robles taking his place. The young Spaniard could not help Everton overcome Stoke and the Toffees also lost to Newcastle 3-2 on Dec. 28 to close out 2014 in a severe slump.

Everton have lost four of their last five PL matches as they sit in 12th place on 21 points, that is 12 points off fourth place, and have just won victory in their last seven games.

With Howard missing for the next six weeks, Everton’s backline has now lost a leader. Bad news for the Toffees.

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