May 26, 2012
SLOWLY, BUT SURELY
Dempsey is recovering from a knee injury

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clint Dempsey isn’t to rush things, especially after the U.S.’s 5-1 triumph over Scotland on Saturday night.

The U.S. international midfielder, who suffered a knee injury that kept him out of Fulham’s season-finale in England, is taking his time returning.

“I’m getting closer,” Dempsey told the NBC Sports Network. “I have a few more sessions. We’ll see how it goes.”

Dempsey admitted he did not know whether he will be fit to play in an international friendly against Brazil in Landover, Md. on Wednesday night.

“I don’t want to be dead weight,” he said. “I want to make an impact.”

Dempsey enjoyed an English Premier League in which he tallied 17 times for Fulham and 23 times in all competitions. He thought he played well, but he obviously felt there was plenty room for improvement.

“I feel good about it,” he said.

But . . .

“I’m still looking at the guys who are way ahead of me.”

He then rattled off some of the best goal-scorers in Europe — Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Lionel Messi of Barcelona, Sergio Aguero of Manchester City and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United.

“You try to see how to get to their level,” he said.

Dempsey admitted he desires to play in the UEFA Champions League, although Fulham did not qualify.

“I want to play Champions League football,” he said. “Hopefully that;s in the cards for me . . . It’s been a dream of mine as a kid.”