Aston Villa: Brad Friedel's future to be decided in February

Dec 23 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

GERARD Houllier will decide Brad Friedel’s future by February – ironically the exact time the veteran goalkeeper is poised to become Villa’s oldest-ever player.

Houllier has rejected claims he has gone back on a new contract offer for Friedel and insists a mutual decision will be made after the January transfer window.

It comes as £5 million midfielder Steve Sidwell’s impending departure to West Ham for a nominal fee was confirmed despite late interest from Wolves.

Sidwell’s departure is set to kick-start a mass exodus of Martin O’Neill signings from Houllier’s squad in January, but more likely at the end of the season.

Whether it will include Friedel remains to be seen with Houllier maintaining the experienced American could still extend his deal which expires next summer.

The Villa boss has admitted to scouting Rangers’ Allan McGregor and Borussia Dortmund’s Roman Weidenfelle among other keepers in his search for a long-term No.1.

Friedel is set to become the claret and blues’ oldest-ever player around the time of the decision if he plays in the league match at Manchester United on Tuesday, February 1.

If he features that day, the former Liverpool and Blackburn stopper will be aged 39 years 259 days, two days older than previous record-holder Ernest ‘Mush’ Callaghan.

Callaghan was a right-back born on July 29 1907 who played his final Villa game in April 1947 aged 39 years 257 days before becoming Villa Park’s live-in odd-job man.

“We are looking at several goalkeepers and we’ve told Brad,” said Houllier.