Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is optimistic star midfielder Clint Dempsey will return from injury before the end of the season.
The USA international sustained a serious knee problem in the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in mid-January and is a doubt to face England at the World Cup in the summer.
But Hodgson has revealed that Dempsey's rehabilitation is going well.
He said: "His progress is good and he is working very hard to recover. The medical staff are very happy with him."
Hodgson added: "It's still a long way to go until the end of the season."