Friedel: Starting spot ´mine to lose´

Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has warned Hugo Lloris that he faces a fight to take his starting berth at White Hart Lane.

The highly rated Frenchman arrived in north London for 15 million euros on transfer deadline day but has yet to make an appearance for his new club.

Friedel’s inspired form in a recent 1-1 draw with Norwich City led to manager Andre Villas-Boas saying the veteran remained first choice, a position the 41-year-old is unwilling to relinquish.

“Right now I believe the shirt is mine to lose, I believe the manager came out and said that. If that’s the case then great,” he told Sky Sports.

“I will turn up every day and work as hard as I can. I will keep as fit as I possibly can, hopefully get selected to play and hopefully do as well as I can.”

With Carlo Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes in reserve, Tottenham have four goalkeepers at the club but Friedel insists he thrives on the challenge.

“It’s great to have competition,” he said.

“Hugo Lloris is France’s number one, he’s going to want to play, I’m going to want to play, and so are Carlo and Heurelho.”

The American also admits he is aware he arrived at the club as a temporary measure despite being Villas-Boas’ first-choice at the moment.

“When I signed for Tottenham, I signed as a stop-gap while Tottenham looked for a long-term goalkeeper. Tottenham deserve a long-term goalkeeper,” Friedel said.

“I want to play, I’ve always wanted to play, I don’t sign contracts not to play. However, I would never demean the manager by spitting my dummy out if I wasn’t playing.

“We are all contracted to Tottenham Hotspur and if they ask me to be a number one (or a number two), I’d do that to the best of my ability.

“Hugo Lloris is going to be a team-mate, not an enemy.

“It is a difficult position to have four goalkeepers of our quality at the club. Saying that, hopefully there’ll be 50-odd games to play this season, which is a lot of games to go around.”