Fulham expect that Clint Dempsey will shake off an ankle problem to be available for selection at Aston Villa on Sunday.
The American midfielder was not risked in yesterday’s Europa League second leg against Amkar Perm but should be ready for Fulham’s return to Premier League action. Roy Hodgson will have to wait on fitness tests to see whether he can field captain Danny Murphy, who picked up a calf injury thanks to a challenge from Ricardo Carvalho last Sunday, Paul Konchesky (who has a knee complaint) and Bobby Zamora, who has been sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Fulham will definitely be without long-term injury victims Toni Kallio (Achilles), Andy Johnson (shoulder) and Simon Davies (foot). New signing Jonathan Greening might come into midfield, but Kagisho Dikgacoi is not considered fit enough to play.
