 After this, Howard became an important member of the promotion-winning team alongside Stephen McPhail in midfield.The pair played in all three play-off games, and Daniel Nardiello's equalising free kick, that took the final against Swansea City into extra time, resulted from a foul on Howard.In March 2007, Howard was one of three Barnsley players released without charge following arrest in connection with an alleged racially motivated assault.