• Premier League

Villas-Boas: Friedel No. 1 for now despite Lloris arrival

ESPN staff
September 3, 2012
Brad Friedel was on form on Saturday © Getty Images
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has warned new signing Hugo Lloris that he will have to show his worth in training before he replaces Brad Friedel as the club's first-choice goalkeeper.

Lloris was one of Spurs' eye-catching deadline day acquisitions, the France international goalkeeper joining from Lyon in a deal worth around £9.5 million. The expectation was that he would immediately slot into the first team, but Villas-Boas has now warned that will not automatically be the case.

Friedel was in sparkling form as Spurs drew 1-1 with Norwich at White Hart Lane on Saturday, as the 41-year-old American pulled off a number of fine saves to ensure the home side at least went away with a point.

And Villas-Boas subsequently insisted the starting spot remains Friedel's, despite the sum spent on Lloris.

"When you transfer it's not written in the contract that you have to play," Villas-Boas said. "He [Lloris] has to compete against three good goalkeepers and at the moment Brad is doing extremely well.

"He deserves to be playing and he'll continue to do so."

Spurs can also count Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini among their goalkeeping ranks.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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