Clint Dempsey becomes World Cup doubt

The United States are facing the prospect of being without arguably their best player at the 2010 World Cup after Clint Dempsey suffered an injury while playing for Fulham this afternoon.

The attacker limped off during Fulham's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn at Ewood Park today and faces a scan tomorrow that will show the extent of the injury and his chances of being on the plane to South Africa for the World Cup tournament.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson explained: "Clint will be scanned on Monday but we feel it might be a posterior cruciate knee ligament which would be very bad for us and he would be out for a while.

"It's a concern up front because Clint Dempsey is very useful for us but now with both he and Bobby out it makes us a bit weaker in that area than we'd like to be."

United States kick off their tournament on June 12th against England in Group C, which also includes Slovenia and Algeria.

Another Fulham player, John Pantsil of Ghana, is also a World Cup doubt following an injury he suffered last month.

Pantsil a doubt for 2010 World Cup

Ghanian defender John Pantsil is a doubt for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after suffering a knee injury.

Pantsil is expected to miss the majority of the remaining Premiership season at least following the injury, which he sustained in Fulham's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last month.

He consequently has to withdraw from Ghana's African Cup of Nations squad, but Ghana would be aghast should he be forced to miss a second tournament.

"We know from the scan that John has damaged his posterior cruciate ligament so he has a serious injury," said Fulham boss Roy Hodgson.