LONDON — Clint Dempsey is recovering well from a knee injury and is on target to return to action for Fulham before the end of the Premier League season.

Dempsey damaged his right knee in Fulham's 2-0 loss to Blackburn on Jan. 17, but manager Roy Hodgson says the American should be playing again ahead of U.S. World Cup opener against England on June 12.

Hodgson said Wednesday that "his progress is good and he is working very hard to recover. The medical staff are very happy with him."

Dempsey has 17 goals in 60 appearances for the U.S., which also plays Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of the World Cup.

Hodgson says "it's still along way to go until the end of the season."