Sir Alex Ferguson is backing his new American international goalkeeper Tim Howard to be a star at Old Trafford.
Numerous highly-rated keepers have failed to fill the sizable gloves of Peter Schmeichel since the big Dane's departure - Massimo Taibi and Mark Bosnich being the biggest flops - but Ferguson believes that 24-year-old Howard will be able to cope well in the United goal and expects him to be challenging Fabien Barthez for his place in the near future.
The United boss said: "You don't know until it happens how a player will react playing in front of 67,000 people, but all the equipment is there, no question of that.
"He's not short of experience in front of big crowds. He played in the Confederations Cup recently. We are well aware there is going to be a settling in period, but once he is over that the determination of the lad will be there."
Ferguson has tipped Howard to join Blackburn’s Brad Friedel and Tottenham’s Kasey Keller as another American goalkeeper to succeed in the Barclaycard Premiership.
He said: "Some terrific goalkeepers have come from America in the past few years and the pile of videos we had on Tim were impressive. He's got the ability and he's got youth on his side."
Howard, who completed his £2.3million transfer from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars on Tuesday, has signed a four-year deal with United and is delighted to have made the 'dream' move. He said: “It is fantasy really to think I can play here. This is the best club in the world without a doubt," he said.
"When the interest came about it was humbling and exciting. I didn't really know what would it would lead to."
Howard’s transfer has also been accompanied by the news that he is a sufferer of Tourette Syndrome, a condition which can cause uncontrollable muscle twitching and verbal outbursts.
He is expected to be invited to the Tourette Syndrome (UK) Association headquarters in Dunfermline, to use his 'celebrity' status in helping raise the profile of the condition in the UK.
Howard said: "I have had the condition for 15 years but it has never had a negative effect on my football."
The keeper is due to fly back to America with his new United team-mates on Saturday as they embark on their U.S. tour.
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