Dempsey: I have shown I can play at this level

Editor's note: Coming in Part 2 of this interview on Friday, Dempsey discusses his recent form with the U.S. and speculates on his future and a possible return to MLS.

U.S. international Clint Dempsey is in his second full season in England and, having recently regained his starting place, has helped Fulham find a consistent run of form that has elevated the Cottagers into a (relatively) comfortable mid-table position.

Speaking exclusively to ESPNsoccernet at Fulham's training ground in south London last week, Dempsey reflected on his time with the Premier League side this season which has seen him score two goals as of Dec. 20.

Phil Cole/GettyImages

Fulham's Clint Dempsey, right, continued his rich form with a goal against Middlesbrough in a 3-0 win.

Clint Dempsey: The season started off slowly for me but, as of late, I've been able to play more. I would like to have done more, as far as goals and assists. We're on a good run right now as far as getting points.

ESPNsoccernet: Since regaining your place, it seems you have been given some freedom to move from your outside midfield position when the moment is right.

CD: We try to make sure that, while we are trying to create things in attack, we know the right time to gamble. A perfect example was the goal against Manchester City, where I played it to Bobby [Zamora] and Jimmy [Bullard] was on the overlap but I was still up there in support of the attack.

The type of player Jimmy is, he likes to get about the field a lot. He finds himself in different positions and so, to try and help keep the shape, I tuck in sometimes when he goes out wide. I think that helps give us a better balance and makes us tougher to break down defensively in case we lose possession. If Jimmy makes a run on the right and I overlap, then there is a big hole in the middle if we lose the ball.

Our coaches are really focused on us and our shape defensively so that we are solid on counterattacks. I think that has made us a tougher team to break down in the last few games.

ESPNsoccernet: Last season, you played a lot as a second striker, but this year, you have often been back out wide. What is your favored position?

CD: The position I like the most is playing as a withdrawn forward or an attacking midfielder. I have learned to adapt, though, and enjoy playing outside now that I have more understanding of that role, whether I am playing out left or wide right. I know what the coaches expect of me and how I can do a better job defensively. I think that is where my game has improved since I have been over here, compared to when I was in MLS.

When I came over, they picked me as an outside midfielder, but I had never really played there until the World Cup. Being there and doing well, people saw me, and that is kind of how things have happened. I just try to make the best of it. I just want to be on the field, so I try to learn whichever position they want me in.

I would like to be scoring more goals obviously but, no matter what, I feel I am able to get in the attack a lot more, and in every game, I get two or three chances.

ESPNsoccernet: Since you arrived in England, you have played for three managers and have been in and out of the team at various times. How does the reality of life in the Premier League compare with the expectations you had before you arrived?

CD: I knew it was going to be a challenge, but it has been difficult going through the different managers. I never expected that. Having [Lawrie Sanchez and Roy Hodgson] that didn't bring me in and having to try to win a spot has been tough. Even [Chris Coleman] that brought me in wasn't playing me too much.

I thought I would get to come over and play more. Obviously, playing with the national team and scoring in the World Cup was a starter, and you want to stay in that direction, so to kind of take a step back was frustrating.

You get down, you get frustrated, but all you can do is keep fighting, and that's kind of the mentality that I have had. You just want to be somewhere where the manager believes in you and you feel like you are part of something. That's been difficult over here because there has been so much change and it has been difficult to try and keep a spot on the team.

I think you have to go through a process of paying your dues. That has always been the way in my life -- you have to work hard for things. But you appreciate them a lot more. I wouldn't have changed anything about that first season. To be able to score the goal [against Liverpool in May 2007] that kept the team up made all the struggles worth it. It was good for me to be part of the battles we have had. It made me stronger mentally, and I think, as a team, it forced us to come together.

ESPNsoccernet: What else have you noticed about the differences between being a soccer player in England compared to the U.S.?

CD: The pace is a lot faster, and you have to get used to playing more day games, the 3 o'clock games. In the States, it seems like we were playing a lot more evening games. Training is more comparable to the national team all over the way across the board.

As far as personal work rate and what you are getting out of training every day -- that has never changed for me. The quality throughout the whole team is just higher. In MLS, you had developmental players who are new to the professional system, and there is a drop off. Here, there is no drop, and you cannot just be as good as the next person -- you have to be better to get a chance.

Being over here, and my wife can tell you this, is lot more stressful because there are more ups and downs. It is more of a rollercoaster because things can change so quickly. You can be in the team or out of the team, whereas in the States, I found a role and knew I was going to play. Not that I didn't work hard, but there was a spot for me on the team and I was doing well.

ESPNsoccernet: How have you dealt with being dropped?

CD: It's tough. You get upset; it's a natural reaction. I dealt with it a little bit in the early stages of playing with the national team under Bruce Arena. I wasn't starting all the time in important games, in some of the qualifiers.

I have never been good being on the bench and feeling like I was helping out. Obviously, when you get subbed in, you have to make the most of it, but you feel like you are really in the thick of things when you are playing 90 minutes or at least playing a good number of minutes.

ESPNsoccernet: Is it a different challenge to retain your starting spot than it is to win it in the first place?

CD: The mindset has to be the same -- you have to be fighting for a spot when you're not playing and when you're playing. It's a competitive league with competitive teams, and you have to make sure that you're always doing well or your spot can be taken away.

That has happened to me a few times since I've been over here. I've had to wait and get a spot that then gets taken away, then wait and get a spot. That's just the way things are -- you just have to always be fighting and doing whatever you can to be on the field. You have to keep that type of mindset to be successful for the team but also for yourself.

ESPNsoccernet: With Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride gone and Eddie Johnson on loan at Cardiff, you are currently the only American at Craven Cottage.

CD: I didn't come here because Americans were here. People were saying Fulham were becoming "Team America," but you want to kind of pave your own way and be successful. I didn't just want to be seen as being on a team with other Americans. I just want to be the best I can be and make the most out of my career and hopefully try to win some things and last as long as I can at the top.

Careers are not that long, and you have to make the most of it. It was nice having familiar faces around, but that is now what you are here for. You're here to do a job and make sure that you are taking care of yourself. If you do, it means you are taking care of the team and trying to help them win.

ESPNsoccernet: Do you feel you have proved yourself as a Premier League player?

In the two seasons that I have been over here, it has been right at the end where we have stayed up. I think you appreciate being part of the Premier League a little bit more. I can say I have an appreciation for it but also that I deserve to be here since I have been a part of a team that has done it twice when their backs were against the wall.

I feel like this is a league that I have learned to play in. When you first come over, it is kind of a gamble but I feel I have done pretty well in this league and scored some goals. I would like to be doing better, but I feel like I have showed I can play at this level.

Andrew Hush is a soccer researcher for ESPN International. He can be reached at a.hush@yahoo.com.