Tim Howard playing into his 40s? Don’t bet on it

Don’t look for Tim Howard to go all “Brad Friedel” in terms of playing into his 40s. Probably not, anyway.

Howard is set to make his 200^th consecutive EPL appearance Saturday as Everton braces to face Stoke City.

Howard is 33, and the U.S. No. 1 in goal clearly still has plenty of good years left. But will be throwing the big Tim Howard gloves around when he’s 41. Friedel, of course, is 41. And he’s still standing tall in goal at the highest level (although Friedel has, apparently, finally lost the top spot for Spurs – which we all pretty much knew was coming sooner or later).

Howard just told Goal.com that he doesn’t see that happening.

Me personally, no. I have some things that I want to do, some goals that I want to accomplish outside of the game. It’s not something that I see myself doing.”

“Having said that if you’re fit and ready to take on the world, you feel you can still do it. I’m sure there’s a side of me that would still want to. But at 33 years old right now, I look at it and say it’s not for me.”

Howard was 19 when he made his first start for the New York MetroStars back in 1998. So, he’s already into a 15^th year as a professional.

That means Howard could play until he’s “only” 38 and have an absolutely fantastic 20-year career.