New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier hopes to keep 39-year-old American goalie Brad Friedel, whose contract expires at the end of the 2010-11 English Premier League season.
"At the moment, he's doing a good job, a very good job," Houllier said. "He's very professional. With a player after the age of 30, you need to sometimes take into consideration certain things. When you have the opportunity to rest them, do it. But he's a good professional. He has always been like that. Everywhere he went I have never heard anything against him in terms of dedication, commitment, preparation. The boys like him as well."
Houllier added that it was too early to begin contract talks.
Friedel played for Houllier early in his EPL career but didn't become a full-time starter until he left Liverpool for Blackburn Rovers.
Friedel has played 397 English league games in 14 seasons.
Friedel, who made 82 appearances for the United States, played for the Columbus Crew, Galatasaray and Brondby before moving to England in 1997, when he joined Liverpool.
Friedel's understudy at Aston Villa is US international Brad Guzan - the hope is that Houllier shares the same intentions as his predecessor Martin O'Neill in regards to Guzan being the incumbent in goal for Villa.
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