BLACKBURN Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel returns to Anfield tomorrow heralded by Mark Hughes as one of the best goalkeepers he's ever worked with.

The big American will make his 182nd consecutive Rovers appearance in the Premier League clash at Liverpool.

And his endurance shows no signs of being affected by the ageing process, as the evergreen 36-year-old looks to continue playing into his 40's.

Friedel has took a number of steps - including regular yoga sessions - to keep himself in tip-top shape and prolong his career.

And as he looks to keep out the Reds - whom he left for Rovers in November 2000 - the former United States international has earned nothing but praise from Hughes.

"Brad stands comparison to any of the keepers that I was fortunate to play with, such as Peter Schmeichel and Neville Southall," said the Rovers manager. "He's right in the top bracket.

"The continuity and consistency that he's been able to display is a credit to him and how he goes about his every-day work.

"Brad's one of the best professionals that I've come across as a player, and certainly as a manager.

"He's at the top of the tree because he works extremely hard to stay there."

Hughes added: "He embraces new things and new thinking, such as yoga, and anything that could give him an advantage to prolong his career.

"I think Brad embraces things more readily than the other guys to push down a certain route.

"He's young in his mind and also surrounded by young guys.

"Obviously, with his professionalism and the way he looks after himself, his career can go on."