The 38-year-old Australian goalkeeper said last week he wants to trigger an option in his current contract to extend his stay at Craven Cottage until 2013.

Schwarzer has been in career-best form over the past few years and Hughes hinted to the Ealing Gazette he'd be happy to answer the Socceroo's wish.

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"If you've got an experienced keeper in your midst, I have always felt it is important to keep them there, fit and well, because that experience is difficult to replicate,” Hughes said.

"He's changed the way he approaches his game in terms of preparation. He's changed his body composition as well.

"He's got more lean 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."

Schwarzer, who had interest from Arsenal at the start of the season, said last week he holds hope of playing at a third World Cup and remaining at Fulham would help him towards that goal.

“I feel as good as I ever have done, I work hard and I’m performing – which for me is the ultimate consideration,” Schwarzer told fulhamfc.co.uk.

“As long as I am playing well week-in-week-out and the manager is playing me then I’ll be around for a while to come.

“I have signed a contract that keeps me at Fulham until the end of next season, and potentially there could be another year after that too.”

Fulham visit Wolverhampton in England's Premier League on Saturday.