Veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard is relishing a special night under the Goodison Park lights when Everton host Fulham in the FA Cup on Friday night (Everton 10/11 draw 9/4 Fulham 5/2 – match prices).

The Merseysiders will take part in their first game on an ordinary Friday since 1980 when the Cottagers arrive for a fourth-round clash and Howard says he cannot wait for his piece of the limelight.

The fixture will be beamed back to USA by major network Fox Sports because it will feature national team goalkeeper Howard, as well as international team-mates Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan (9/4 – Score Anytime).

“I think it’ll be cool, something a bit different coming at the end of a working week for all our supporters,” he said. “It’s unique, a Cup game, and I think it’ll all add to the sense of occasion and make it exciting. I can imagine they’ll be right up for it, and if we can get a result it just adds to their weekend.”

Everton beat Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League in October last year and Howard, who will be making his 250th appearance for the club, says it will be a difficult game.

The 32-year-old told the Liverpool Echo: “Fulham are a tough team just because of how good they are in attack but we’ve shown we can play against them. We match up well. They’re a side we seem to match up nicely against and this game is all about match ups and countering other teams. We will keep it tight and do what we’ve done when we’ve gone down there and got results. We want to do the same here.”