Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is adamant that the club need to replace David Moyes with a "strong character".

Moyes will leave the Toffees at the end of the season to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of Manchester United, leaving the Merseysiders without a boss.

Howard is hoping that the new manager will remain at Goodison Park for the long term following Moyes' 11-year reign at the club.

"Manchester United and Everton are in the same boat with having to replace the manager in terms of expectation and all the rest," Howard told The Mirror.

"It's just very rare to replace one long-serving manager with another long-serving one, so we will need to fill the vacancy with a very strong character. And I have no doubt that will happen."

Everton travel to Chelsea on the final day of the season on Sunday.