The American goalkeeper is in line to make his 200 successive Premier League appearance against Everton on Saturday.

Warnock and Friedel were together at their previous club Blackburn Rovers and the defender has issued a ringing endorsement of his colleague.

"To clock up 200 games in a row would be an incredible achievement but we all know that Brad (Friedel) is a quality keeper," he said.

"You only have to watch him in training and can see his total commitment to being a good and top class professional.

"He is always striving to get better - even at the age he is. He always wants to do better."

Friedel is expected to keep his place in the team despite watching his deputy and fellow countryman Braz Guzan save three penalties in the Carling Cup penalty shoot-out win over Sunderland on Tuesday.

Guzan, who joined the club in 2008, has impressed when called upon and is aiming to become number one goalkeeper at Villa Park in the hope of taking over the US national team jersey from Everton's Tim Howard.