Howard given confidence booster after Swedish display

Steve Howard has been given a timely confidence boost after his game was praised by Leicester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson after he ended the tour of Sweden with four goals to his credit.

Chuffed: Howard scored 4 in an impressive 2nd half at Vasalunds

Eriksson singled-out the Scot for praise, claiming, "If he scores four goals every game, he can go on playing, no problem."

"Howard played very well in the second half and had good support from the others," the former England manager was quoted as saying in the Leicester Mercury, "The team should be stronger this season than last season and the competition is very hard. But the ideal thing is we have two players for every position and then it is up to the players."

Competition is indeed hard in almost every position and, with two more signings expected this week, the challenge for Eriksson is in who exactly to choose as his first eleven. For now, however, the Swede has been impressed by what 35-year-old Howard has to offer.

"He just does need to go on as he does now. He has done a very good pre-season, working very hard, and he is in good shape."