Howard, who had hugely impressive spells with Manchester United and Everton, says the lack of US keepers in the coming Premier League season is not all “doom and gloom”.
However, he adds that the situation highlights just how hard it is to make the cut and suggests it is something that may have been taken for granted.
“I’m happy, lucky and fortunate to have been a part of it,” Howard told The Telegraph. “I think it’s eye-opening and a good thing for US keepers to see there is no divine right to play in the Premier League.
“People have mistakenly thrown that rhetoric around, ‘What are you going to do – play in England?’ Well it’s not that easy.
“Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, myself, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan and a few others – it’s not an easy thing to do. When you start throwing a blanket over things, ‘This is what is going to happen.’ It doesn’t always work that way.