BRAD Friedel and Villa should discuss only a one-year extension to the veteran keeper’s current contract, according to the club’s most recently-retired favourite.

Martin Laursen hung up his boots in summer 2009 and knows from experience that footballers in the winter of their careers should plan no more than 12 months ahead.

Laursen is convinced his former team-mate still has at least another season left in the professional game despite the prospect of turning 40 in May. 

But the ex-Denmark international defender reckons it makes no sense for the club or the American stopper to commit themselves to a new deal longer than a year.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier has been assessing Friedel’s form in training and matches and has pledged to discuss his future in a meeting within the next month or so.

“I think he has one year,” said Laursen, who stopped off at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground last week to see his former team-mates.

“When you get to 40 you can’t start planning for a couple of seasons, you have to take one season at a time.

“But from what I’ve seen, why not? It depends on what Villa want and it also depends on what Brad wants. Does he still feel that hunger and is he still feeling good physically?”

Laursen, aged 33, who was forced to retire almost two years ago with serious knee problems, is impressed with the professional way Friedel looks after himself.