Former Aston Villa goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich praised Brad Friedel for his performance this season and  believes the USA star  will be a key man to Villa’s success as they fight for English Premier League top four race.

"Brad's appearance record is a super achievement but he has always been a very talented goalkeeper,” Bosnich told Villa’s official website.

"I can remember watching him play for the USA in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona when I was with Australia. I remember talking to my then-agent Graham Smith and saying 'this boy is really talented.'

"He then arrived at Liverpool, had a bit of a tough time, but since then his form for Blackburn and Villa has been absolutely outstanding.

"He is like a fine wine - as he's got older he's got better and better. Fair play, even when I first saw him he was very talented and he's developed brilliantly."

Aston Villa are playing well this season and their defensive is reported to be the best in English Premier League after conceding not more than ten goals and Bosnich is confident that the claret and blue troops will finish in top six.

"I am confident Villa will finish in the top six but if they really put their minds to it and believe, they can pip Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City for fourth,” he continued.

"It's how much they really want it. Staying clear of injuries is really important because out of all the teams in the race, Villa probably have the thinnest squad.

"But if they can stay fit and believe enough they really can get into that top four."

Bosnich also eulogized the leadership of Aston Villa’s coach Martin O'Neill and described him as a "true gent."

"Martin's doing a fabulous job - but he's done that at every club he's been at,” He added.

"People who just know him as a manager forget that he played in one of the best English teams in the country's history - Nottingham Forest - who emerged victorious in two European Cups in the early 1980s.

"He played under the late, great Brian Clough and that gave him great experience and he's done his apprenticeship at Wycombe and done fantastically well at Leicester and Celtic.

"I had the good pleasure of meeting Martin one night in London when he was manager of Celtic and he is a true gentleman of football and a real man."

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