Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan has been one of the standout points of the season for the Midlands club. He has now been praised by manager Paul Lambert for the way he has come back extremely strongly into the team. Guzan was one of the players released by Aston Villa recently, but he was quickly re-signed by the club under the management of Lambert. He has not only managed to force his way into the first-team squad, but he has managed to keep former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given out of the starting line-up as well.

Given is expected to leave the club at the end of the season after growing frustrated about the lack of first-team opportunities. Lambert has said that he would not be swapping Guzan for any goalkeeper because he has been simply brilliant. The American is one of the several goalkeepers from the United States to have established as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier league. Lambert has said that Guzan has been brilliant from the first game at Newcastle. He has recalled on the major saves made by the American International, which has been responsible for keeping the club in the Premier league.

Villa survived in the division by finishing in the 15th place.

“I think Brad has been exceptional. He’s been absolutely colossal for the football club. I wouldn’t swap him. He’s a really good guy as well, which is important. He is just a top-class goalkeeper. He has been really fantastic for us. His first game was up at Newcastle and he was excellent there. Since then, he has made some massive saves for us in big moments and he’s been a credit to the club,” said the Aston Villa manager. In the season that concluded, Guzan made 36 appearances in the league.