[AMERICANS ABROAD] You can scratch Clint Dempsey from the U.S. injury list. Only seven and weeks after beind sidelined with a knee injury, Dempsey returned to action for Fulham Thursday. He played the last hour hour of Fulham's 3-1 loss to Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 series.

Dempey injured his right knee in a Premier League game against Blackburn on Jan. 17. After initial fears that he could be lost for the World Cup, it was revealed that his knee suffered only moderate dame and a mid-March return was projected.

Only three potential  World Cup starters -- Charlie Davies, Stuart Holden and Benny Feilhaber -- are currently sidelined after the list of players sidelined grew to seven during the winter.