SKIPPER Garry Flitcroft is in no doubt about who is the Blackburn Rovers number one.

Like almost every other player and pundit in the country, Flitcroft has singled out Brad Friedel as the top performer during Blackburn's run to sixth spot in the Premiership.

"Brad's been outstanding ever since he came here," said Flitcroft. "This season there's been so many games when he's saved us with important stops at good times.

"You can always rely on him, he's the top man in the Premiership at the moment."

It's no small achievement for the American World Cup star to gain such a high standing in Flitcroft's personal rankings.

As a youngster at Manchester City, he spent his early career playing in front of Tony Coton, who he has always considered the best keeper he's played with.

But working closely with Friedel has given him reason to re-consider, and it's not just the stunning saves during games that Flitcroft uses as a benchmark.

He added: "I always said that Tony Coton was probably the best I played with. You can always tell someone is good because they don't let many goals in in training.

"In training you can't beat Brad and that shows he's a top class keeper and a great professional as well.

'He's definitely been worth more points to us this season and certainly earned us three against Arsenal here.

"He's been different class and a great bloke, and he's so professional both on and off the pitch."

Getting in to the UEFA Cup is the achievement that stands out for Flitcroft over the season, but the road in to Europe has been paved with disappointment.

In an ideal world, Flitcroft would have liked to have secured Blackburn's place a couple of months earlier - by retaining the Worthington Cup.

As well as avoiding nails being chewed right up until the final day of the season, lifting the trophy at Cardiff would have more than made up for his absence from last year's 2-1 final triumph over Tottenham.

And although it was another victory over Spurs, 4-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, that booked next season's UEFA Cup adventure, Flitcroft would have swapped it for the Worthington Cup.

He said: "It was a massive disappointment not reaching the final after I missed it last year.

"Not getting through the semi-final against Manchester United was definitely the low point of the season.

"I was also disappointed to miss the second leg of our UEFA Cup tie against Celtic as I was injured. We went out so that was the end of my involvement in another cup."

And the captain also feels that the door to European football through their league position should have flung open earlier in the campaign, given their failure to perform as well against the teams below them as they did against the ones above.

Flitcroft said: "We don't do well against the bottom sides and that's something we have to look at for next season.

"Some lads don't get motivated for lesser games and it shouldn't be like that, you should be up for every game no matter who it's against."

This philosophy probably explains why Flitcroft modestly plays down one of his vital contributions to Rovers' success - the winning goal against champions Manchester United in December.

He said: "Any goal you score is nice, especially as the one against Man United won us the game as well."

While Friedel currently tops Flitcroft's popularity chart, he remains good friends with another former Rovers stopper as he will be jetting off to Spain to spend a holiday on retired goalkeeper Alan Miller's boat.

Back home Flitcroft also hopes to relax on the golf course this summer, which won't be difficult as he should have the peace of mind of a new contract signed by this time.