U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who left MLS’s Chivas USA for Aston Villa, has been granted a work permit by UK’s Home Office. Now the 23-year-old’s only obstacle to getting on the field when he returns from Olympic duty is fellow American Brad Friedel, the 37-year-old veteran who was signed in the offseason from Blackburn.
Friedel has played in more than 250 top-flight games for Blackburn and Liverpool.
“I am going to go in there and work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can and try and become a better player and help the team in any way I can,” said Guzan. “Whether that is as a No. 2 or competing for a No. 1, I am going to be pushing to make myself better or pushing to make the person who is playing to play better.”