The Seattle Sounders' Clint Dempsey, who will start a two-month loan with his former club Fulham FC in January, says he's looking forward to rejoining the club where he made his name in the Premier League from 2007 to 2012, and hopes he can "help out in this situation."
The "situation" is that Fulham are currently in the EPL relegation zone, sitting in 19th place in the standings with just 13 points from 17 matches played. They recently replaced manager Martin Jol with longtime Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen.
In an interview with FulhamFC.com (video below), Dempsey said he is looking forward to returning to Craven Cottage and "helping this club be in the Premier League."
"This has always felt right to me," Dempsey said of the club where he spent five and a half years between 2007 and 2012. "This has always felt like home."
During his first stint with Fulham, Dempsey scored 60 goals in 225 appearances in all competition, including one that was voted Fulham's best goal since the club joined the Premier League in 2001.
His goal-scoring talents are clearly on the mind of Fulham's technical staff, who, Dempsey says, have given him simple instructions for his upcoming time at Craven Cottage.
"Get some goals," Dempsey said. "That's the game plan."
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Beyond what he can do for Fulham, though, Dempsey clearly sees a broader benefit to playing through the winter, namely, staying fit and in form ahead of next summer's FIFA World Cup. It's a tactic employed by other USMNT players over the years, including Landon Donovan, who had a successful loan spell with EPL side Everton in the winter before the 2010 World Cup.
"Going into a World Cup year you want to get to that top form and carry that forward," Dempsey said, "so hopefully you can have a good showing."
