Tim Howard believes his yearlong sabbatical away from the United States and move to Major League Soccer helped him to regain his top form this year.
Howard asked U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a year away from the national team following the 2014 World Cup. Upon returning, he spent the past year in a platoon situation with Brad Guzan, but he was finally named the first choice ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Mexico.
The 37-year-old told ESPN FC that he believes the time away helped him to know that he still had a passion for representing his country.