Source: PA
Collins hails `world class' Friedel
James Collins has hailed Aston Villa's veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel as "world class" and believes he can play at the top for several more seasons.
Friedel will be 39 in May but his powers so show no signs of diminishing; he produced crucial late saves to deny Newcastle an equaliser in Sunday's 1-0 win which pushed Villa five points clear of the bottom three.
Friedel has already held talks with Villa over a new contract with his current deal running out this summer.
Collins told Press Association Sport: "Since I came to the club, Brad has been unbelievable week in and week out. He is such a good professional in the way he handles himself off the pitch and he is in the gym every day still at nearly 40.
"He is a credit to himself and his professional and his professionalism is second to none. I think I will retire before him the way he is going and I'm only 27! He is a world-class keeper and can go on playing.
"When he is called upon, if he has made 100 saves or no saves in a game, you can always rely on him. He has been doing the same thing for years and years in the Premier League."
