Aston Villa: Brad Guzan sets out to become Villa's Number One
Brad Guzan
BRAD Guzan has set his sights on Brad Friedel’s Premier League No.1 jersey – even though Villa’s cup keeper is braced to lose his place against Arsenal tomorrow night.
Guzan has featured in all nine of Villa’s matches in knockout competitions this season with five Carling Cup appearances, two in the FA Cup and two in the Europa League.
But the ambitious young American has yet to make a Premier League start for Villa with senior stopper Friedel still manager Martin O’Neill’s first-choice goalkeeper in the top flight.
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And Friedel will again get the nod when Villa resume their Champions League push against Arsene Wenger’s Gunners at Villa Park.
“Brad Friedel has been fantastic,” said Guzan.
“He’s a true professional, absolutely, in terms of the conversations we have off and on the field.
“We have got a good working relationship and a good relationship off the field.
“But I think in any business, any job, in anything you do, you are striving to get to the top.
“He knows that I am an up-and-coming goalkeeper who is trying to push for playing time and he respects that.”
Guzan has played in more fixtures than Friedel this month with three cup clashes against Blackburn and one against Brighton, compared to his elder compatriot’s single league match against West Ham.
But the former Chivas USA keeper was culpable for Rovers’ goal in the FA Cup third round and both strikes in last Wednesday’s 6-4 Carling Cup semi-final success and is constantly striving to improve.
“I just try to continue to get better, push the team, help the team,” said Guzan.
“Obviously it can be a bit difficult, coming in, and playing every other game or whatever it might be. For me it is a tricky situation but I’ll just try to get better.
“Those two semi-finals were two of the biggest games of my career. You cherish those moments as a player.
“The only thing that would compare I would say are international qualifiers for the World Cup. It has the same pressure to it.”
Marlon Harewood’s hopes of ending his Villa Park hell this month have been dashed after the forgotten frontman broke his foot in training.
Harewood had set his sights on leaving Villa temporarily or permanently during the January window after a frustrating two-and-a-half-year spell.
But the 30-year-old, who recently scored six goals in a 15-game loan spell at Championship club Newcastle, fractured a metatarsal late last week.
It is a blow to O’Neill’s chances of generating cash for new players as the Villa manager was hoping to get a fee for Harewood, albeit significantly less than the £4 million Villa paid for him in August 2007.
Harewood, a reported transfer target for West Ham and Hull, will be sidelined for up to three months and will be able to leave for free when his contract expires in the summer.
Villa’s postponed league match at Wigan has been rescheduled for 7.45pm on Tuesday, March 16.
The home match against Wolves has been brought forward to Saturday, March 20 at 12.45pm.
And the trip to Hull on Saturday, 27 February will also have to be rearranged because of Villa’s involvement in the Carling Cup final the following day.
