Suspected rib injury sustained as Emile Heskey slid into him in the 30th minute.
Unsure whether these are soft tissue injuries/ bone bruises or something more sinister like cracked ribs. Howard may need X-rays or scans to establish a diagnosis. A combination of cortisone and adrenaline kept him in the game and he continued his brilliant form. But he woke up this morning very sore in his rib cage.
“He will be evaluated later today and a decision will be made as to whether he will need further tests,” Bradley said of Howard. “Obviously, he was sore. He did a great job of taking a tough hit and staying in it and playing really well.”

The good thing is that there are about five days before Slovenia (June 18th) and Howard should be able to make a full recovery. Personally, one would like a athletic shotstopper like Howard. to deal effectively deal with the Jabulani fly all over the place in the thin air of Johannesburg. Marcus Hahnemann does not inspire the same sort of confidence.