Andy Marshall says Brad Friedel is unstoppable and deserves another year at Aston Villa

Apr 3 2011 by Gregg Evans, Sunday Mercury

ANDY Marshall reckons goalkeeping rival Brad Friedel is unstoppable – and can’t ever see the veteran keeper hanging up his gloves.

USA ace Friedel turns 40 next month and a decision on whether to extend his Villa contract for another year is thought to be imminent.

And Marshall has no doubts he will still be able to cut it at the highest level should he get a new deal.

“You look at the guy and you think, ‘I can’t ever see him stopping’,” said Marshall.

“I see him every day and he never misses training, he never shirks anything, he never tries to get out of anything, he does everything that we do and looking at him I’d still say he’s got another year left in him.

“He’s been playing very well in a team that is struggling at the moment and that’s testament to him.”

Villa’s understudy stopper recently signed his own contract extension, keeping him at the club for at least another season.

It will be the 35-year-old’s third year at Villa Park but he is still to make his debut because of the form of Friedel.

But Marshall insists he is enjoying his football as much as ever and says Friedel’s professionalism has rubbed off on him and he has now targeted playing until he is 40.

“I was thinking my career was nearly finished,’’ he said.

“But I came here and saw how Brad was at 38-39, and now nearly 40, and I realised that the guy is phenomenal.

“It’s testament to how he lives his life, how he trains and how he plays football.

“It’s made me think that I can go on for another two, three, four years.