Union upset by Howard's absence from Everton for friendly

Nick Sakiewicz couldn't hide his disappointment. The Union CEO and operating partner said he was told a few days ago that United States national team goalkeeper Tim Howard would not be joining Everton for Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. friendly against the Union at PPL Park in Chester.

Howard is not even with his team. Everton manager David Moyes says his keeper is getting a rest following his play for the United States in the Gold Cup. The Americans advanced to the final, losing to Mexico, 4-2, on June 25 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Still, the Union expected Howard for the game.

"We were under the impression he was coming and playing," Sakiewicz said. "We're obviously disappointed he is not coming, but it will be a good game anyway."

Moyes said Howard needed a break.

"Because he played for the U.S. all summer, you can't ask him to play 10 months of our season and a month for the U.S. and have no holiday," Moyes said following Tuesday's light workout at PPL Park. "This is holiday time we have to give him and give to all the players."

Sakiewicz, a former professional keeper, knows the demands on a soccer player's schedule, so he can see why Howard is resting. In fact Sakiewicz says the Union recently rested forward Carlos Ruiz because he had been playing soccer nonstop without a break.

Sakiewicz's objection was that the Union wasn't told about this sooner.

"We understand the need to rest players and have no issue with that," he said. "It just would have been nice to know."

When asked how long he knew that Howard wouldn't be playing, Moyes said, "We knew that would always be the case."

Moyes then was told that the Union were upset at not being told this long ago. The Everton manager said he assumed that the Union would know this was the case.

"Would you not know, if he played for the national team all summer, that there would be a rest and he wouldn't be here?" Moyes said.

Apparently the answer is no.

"Those guys told us three to four months ago that he would be here," Sakiewicz said. "Why would we put him in our advertising?"

When Sakiewicz first learned about Howard's status he was taken aback.

"I was shocked," he said.

Everton visits D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium in another friendly and Howard will not join the team until after the game, according to Moyes.

"He will fly back with us Sunday, but won't join the team until then," Moyes said.

Everton is in its preseason and while the team would have liked to have had Howard, the players understood his need for time off.

"He needs his rest in the summer, too," Everton defender Phil Neville said. "He has three weeks off, which in a 12-month calendar is not a lot of time off and it is important that he gets his rest."

According to Sakiewicz, Howard was the centerpiece for inviting this English Premier League team to play the Union. Sakiewicz said had he known Howard wouldn't be playing, the Union could have invited a different opponent and would have considered that option.

"We had other opportunities to play other teams,"Sakiewicz said. "This is not the way we roll."