Fulham Manager Mark Hughes highlighted the value of Mark Schwarzer's vast top flight experience to the Team recently when discussing the goalkeeper position.
Schwarzer is currently playing in his 14th season in the Premier League in a professional career that has spanned over 20 years to date and Hughes emphasised just how beneficial that experience can be to the Team.
“Goalkeeping is a specialised position and it takes experience over and above any other position. A lack of experience in the goalkeeping position can cost your team dearly," Hughes told fulhamfc.com.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to judge when to give young keepers the opportunity and put your complete faith in them because there’s always that understanding that maybe they haven’t had enough games they need to totally understand the role and qualities that are needed.
“If you’ve got an experienced keeper in your midst, I’ve always felt it’s important to try and keep them there, and fit and well, because that experience is very difficult to replicate.
“He’s [Mark Schwarzer] changed the way he approaches his game in terms of preparation. He’s changed his body composition as well. He’s got more lean mass and he works hard on his diet and nutrition and that shows what a very good professional he is.
“He’s trying to lengthen his career because he wants to play as long as he can. He still has ambitions in the game and hopefully he can achieve them.”