Fulham manager Martin Jol believes Mark Schwarzer could carry on playing until he’s 45 – but is in no rush to open contract talks with the veteran Fulham keeper.
The Australian international’s deal at Craven Cottage is up in the summer and he has already set his sights on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Schwarzer, 40, has been ever-present for Fulham this season, and Jol says he can go on for some time yet if he remains injury-free.
He said: “If he’s like he is now – still fit – then he can carry on until he’s 45! That can change in a couple of months, especially with older players, but with keepers they’re different.
“If you look at (Brad) Friedel at Spurs who’s even older, he’s still looking good, but it depends on their fitness.”
Schwarzer, Damien Duff, Chris Baird and Simon Davies are all in the final 12 months of their contracts, but while Jol has offered fresh terms to skipper Brede Hangeland, he is in no hurry to open talks with the others.
“We’ve got a number of players in their last year so that will be the thing for the next couple of months,” he added.
“For the older players it’s not important to talk now, but if they do well we want to keep our best players.”
