By FRANCO PANIZO

WASHINGTON – For the first time since 2006, Tim Howard is officially the U.S. Men’s National Team backup goalkeeper.

Just make sure you don’t tell him that.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced on Wednesday that Brad Guzan will be starting in goal these next two months, and that Howard, the former starter, will be the reserve. Howard has just returned to the U.S. picture this week after a sabbatical from international play that lasted a little over a year, but will have to wait until at least November to potentially earn back the No. 1 spot.

That means the 36-year-old Howard will not be in between the pipes when the Americans take on Peru on Friday and Brazil next Tuesday, nor will he get the nod in the all-important CONCACAF Cup clash with Mexico on Oct. 10.

Howard knows and fully understands the situation. It is something he agreed upon when talking to Klinsmann about coming back into the U.S. fold. Still, his outlook, drive, and overall mindset will continue to be that of a starter.

“Never been a backup. I think that’s a mentality,” said Howard on Wednesday. “I work my tail off every day. I know what it means to compete at the highest level and have a certain level of excellence, and I do that. I’ve never been a backup, never will be, so that’s not something I really worry about too much.”

Instead, Howard is focused on being as good as he can be while enjoying his return as much as possible. Absent since making a record 15 saves in a Round of 16 match at last year’s World Cup, Howard has craved to be alongside his American teammates. He may have taken a break from representing the U.S. to spend time with his family, but the desire to help his nation never waned.

That is why he is approaching this camp with a business-as-usual attitude, essentially picking up where he left off. Yes, Howard’s role with the team may be different, but his hunger to contribute remains the same as it did prior to his hiatus.

“I never lost that passion, never lost that passion,” said Howard, a veteran of three World Cups who has played for the U.S. 104 times. “I’ve been excited about this team. I’ve missed it. I took a year out for my own reasons, for the right reasons, and one of those reasons wasn’t because I lost any passion or fire.”

Having Howard back in camp might help Klinsmann get even more out of Guzan, the former protege who transitioned into being the full-time U.S. starter this past year. Howard’s presence will force Guzan to be at his very best in training and in games, especially since Klinsmann has hinted at there possibly being an open competition for the No. 1 goalkeeper spot after October.

Fierce competition is not all that Howard provides with his return either. His savvy, leadership skills, and perspective of the bigger picture are also things that both players and coaches alike can lean on, which could prove very important with the crucial game against Mexico so quickly approaching.

“Every experienced player has a certain way of carrying his energy into the group and with Tim Howard, with his experience, with who he is, and what he’s done, he will immediately balance things out,” said Klinsmann. “He will calm people down, he will kind of look around and he will give you his two thoughts on things, which is great, because that’s why he is where he is, playing as the No. 1 at Everton for so many years.”

Howard has gotten off to a good start in the Premiership this season with Everton. He has made a string of key saves to keep the Toffees in games – though one recent performance also saw him make a result-changing error – and is feeling fit and ready to contribute to the U.S. cause.

He is also aware of the importance of helping the U.S. prepare for next month’s showdown with Mexico. Howard caught some of the Americans’ games in their failed CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in July – some of the few he was able to watch live during his break – and knows that the team has to improve in multiple facets.

Howard is ready to help in that regard now that he is back. No matter how he has to do it.

“Nothing changes for me, honestly. It really doesn’t,” said Howard. “I do all the same things come kickoff on Friday. If I need to play, I’ll be 100 percent ready. If I don’t, I don’t, so my mentality doesn’t change.”