Dempsey misses pre-season tour

Image: Clint Dempsey: Fulham attacker is attracting strong interest from Liverpool

Fulham have confirmed Clint Dempsey is not on the club¿s pre-season tour of Switzerland because of a lack of match fitness.

Grygera given a lifeline by Fulham boss

Fulham have confirmed Clint Dempsey is not on the club's pre-season tour of Switzerland because of a lack of match fitness. The 29-year-old United States international has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, which has yet to materialise. There have been reports that Dempsey and Fulham chief Martin Jol were involved in a bust-up before the squad left for the trip. However, Fulham spokeswoman Katie Holmes played down any suggestion of a row between the pair and claimed the American had been left in London "to work on his fitness".

Fitness

Meanwhile, defender Zdenek Grygera has been given a chance to win a new contract by Jol. Grygera is back in training after a long injury lay-off and looks to have recovered from the knee injury that had caused him so many problems. The Czech Republic international is out of contract but Jol has hinted he could still have a future at Craven Cottage.
Injured
"Grygera was injured and looks better now," he told The Chronicle. "Hopefully he can prove himself before the end of August. If he proves he's fit I would like to keep him. "He was one of the few players who did well from the start. I played him against Chelsea in the Carling Cup and he was the best man on the pitch. He's a good player."
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