England

Dempsey Drops Exit Hint

Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has hinted that he may be forced to leave Craven Cottage in search of regular first-team football after dropping down the pecking order in west London.

Sep 28, 2008 7:54:41 AM

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Clint Dempsey - Fulham (PA)

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Clint Dempsey

The summer arrival of Zoltan Gera, plus Roy Hodgson’s appointment as manager last term, has seen the US international confined to the bench more often than not, and indeed he has started just one match – the Carling Cup defeat to Burnley – thus far.

The 25-year-old would certainly not be short of suitors in England, and the player admits his future may lie elsewhere if he isn’t given the opportunity to fight his way into the starting eleven.

"The coach here now is not the one who brought me in so it's difficult proving that I deserve to be on the field," the News of the World quoted Dempsey as saying.

The Cottagers have, though, lost two league games in a row, and the former New England Revolution midfielder may benefit from changes that Hodgson opts to make.

However, Hodgson has shown that changes may not come from within. On Saturday, despite being down a man and two goals from the first half, the manage made no substitutions, a clear enough sign that he does not have faith in his bench players.

Will Wood