It’s no surprise – but Clint Dempsey has ruled out retiring from international football as he wants to continue to compete for honours with the United States.

The Fulham midfielder wants to extend his international career at least until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is motivated by appearing at another World Cup finals having made his mark in the last two tournaments. It was his performances in the 2006 World Cup that earned him a move from the MLS to the Premier League after he was the only American to score at the tournament, netting against Ghana. Dempsey also scored in the 1-1 draw with England at last year’s tournament in South Africa.

The line of questioning was presumably prompted by the decision of Aaron Hughes, Dempsey’s Fulham team-mate, to retire from international duty at the end of this qualifying cycle in a bid to extend his playing career.

I want to play in another World Cup and hopefully we’ll qualify for Brazil. I’ve got to make the most of my career and play in as many competitions as possible, and then after the World Cup, assess my career from there.

The USA face Honduras in Miami tomorrow and then play Ecuador in New Jersey on Tuesday and Dempsey is keen to make an impression under new manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

This will be my first game under Klinsmann, and it will be good to get a first win under him.