Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard downplays Europa League fatigue

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has insisted that his side will not be addled by Europa League fatigue when they take on Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The USA international said that his team's 4-1 victory over Wolfsburg in midweek will not have a negative impact on this weekend's Premier League fixture.

"It's a positive - if you win you can stay on a good winning streak, and if you lose there's another game right there for you to prove yourself," Sky Sports News quotes Howard as saying.

"I always think the more you play the less you have to train. Playing games keeps you ticking over and I feel when there's points to be had, it's easy to bounce back.

"These two results help. Against Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea we played well but we were just a little bit frail in certain areas. We also knew if we could beat West Brom then double up and beat Palace we'd be right back in the thick of things so hopefully that will be the case."

Everton go into the game against Palace in 12th place in the table.