Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall believes it was “pointless” to rest Tim Howard for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup clash with Leeds.
Southall, who holds the record number of consecutive league appearances, revealed he used to have arguments with his management if they ever attempted to leave him out of the side.
The Welshman’s record of 212 consecutive league appearances is being chased down by Everton’s current shot stopper Howard, who finds himself on 189, a run that stretches back to September 2007.
Southall told the Liverpool Echo: “I hated missing games. I used to have a row with Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall if they ever wanted to leave me out, because you’d lose a bit of momentum. I liked to stay in the zone.
“When I looked at the game against Leeds on TV I was looking to see if it was Tim playing, then thinking: ‘Why have they left him out?’ It’s pointless. Outfield players I can understand, but once a goalkeeper gets in that groove you want to leave him in there.
“If you’re No. 1, you’re No. 1 and it’s up to you to play yourself out of that position. I hated missing any game, even a Simod Cup tie against Millwall with 3,000 inside Goodison because I was looking forward to playing in a young team. I think Howard Kendall left me out because he didn’t want to be in the competition anyway!”
Southall was also full of praise for the man who could end up surpassing his record, claiming Howard has become a better goalkeeper since arriving at Goodison Park from Old Trafford.
“Tim’s a good goalkeeper,” he continued. “His distribution could be better. Sometimes he kicks it too high and too far, which is okay when you’ve got Fellaini on the end of it but not always, but other than that he’s a very good keeper.
“I think he’s done well and he’s improved since he’s been at the club.”
