Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has won theĀ Futbol de Primera US player of the year award for the second time.

The Texan midfielder beat off competition from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan to win the award for the first time since 2006, when he was voted player of the year on the strength of his performances at the World Cup in Germany.

Dempsey achieved 375 points, more than 100 ahead of Howard, in the voting conducted by American football writers, recognition for his fine international season. He has scored four times for the Americans in twelve games this season and his goal at Wigan on Saturday brought him level with Brian McBride as the highest scoring American in Premier League history.