Keeper set for 'friendly' competition

Brad Friedel has fired a warning to new Spurs rival Hugo Lloris that he will have a fight on his hands to land the goalkeeper's jersey.

The 41-year-old turned in an outstanding display for Tottenham in their 1-1 draw against Norwich before the international break, with Lloris forced to settle for a place on the bench after his £12m switch from Lyon. Friedel accepts that the French international is likely to be the club's long-term number one at White Hart Lane, although the American is in no rush yet to step aside. The former Liverpool and Aston Villa stopper is convinced the competition between the sticks can only be a good thing for manager Andre Villas-Boas, who now has a number of talented keepers at his disposal. He said: "I'm 41 right now; when I signed the contract at Tottenham I signed as a stop gap while they looked for a long-term No 1 goalkeeper. "Carlo Cudicini, who is an outstanding goalkeeper, has just turned 39; Heurelho Gomes, who is an outstanding goalkeeper as well is 31. Tottenham Hotspur deserve a long-term goalkeeper. "Hugo Lloris is going to come in and he's going to be, I'm assuming, a very goalkeeper. It's a tricky situation to come into the Premier League because it does take some learning. "When I first came in I had probably my worst year-and-a-half spell of my entire career at Liverpool while I was learning my way - but it's an invaluable experience as well. "Hugo Lloris is France's No 1 and he's going to want to come in and play; it's a friendly competition, if you like. You have to understand Hugo Lloris is going to be a team-mate, not an enemy. "I want to play; I've always wanted to play. However, I would never demean the manager or spit my dummy out, so to speak, if I'm not. "The fact of the matter is, right now, we have four quality goalkeepers at the football club. Right now I believe the shirt is mine to lose. I believe the manager came out and said that."