Everton's USA goalkeeper Tim Howard is delighted with his new five-year contract. "I'm excited," said Howard on putting pen to paper. "It comes at a really good time. I guess any new deal is a good thing but to be able to seal it now and go home for the summer is good. It's good to put it to bed.

"But it was relatively easy. The Club wanted me here, I wanted to be here and we kept it quiet so it worked out really well.

"I feel this is some of the best football I've ever played but, from what history tells me, goalkeepers normally come into their prime about this time. If I can have my best years here at Everton I think everyone will be excited and I know I'd be over the moon.

Howard revealed he had no doubts about committing his future to the Club, insisting he has found his home at Goodison Park.

"It would be great place for me to have my peak time," he continued on evertonTV. "It's a place I've said all along where I enjoy coming to work every day.

"I enjoy the atmosphere at Goodison, the fans are fantastic, the manager and his staff have been great with me and I love my team-mates. All that being said, why would I not want to be here?"