The United States international has been impressive since joining the Cottagers in the 2006 January transfer window from Major League Soccer side New England Revolution.

He has started 28 Barclays Premier League matches so far this season, and is the club's top league scorer with six goals.

Dempsey and his team-mates face Portsmouth in the last round of fixtures hoping to secure their Barclays Premier League status after back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Birmingham City gave them renewed hope of avoiding the drop.

Victory at Fratton Park in next Sunday's finale would complete a remarkable escape act and manager Roy Hodgson is ready to demand one last push from his side.

He said: "We've been written off for a long time and I understand that because we've been at the bottom of the table for a long time.

"It's not been easy for myself and my players to consistently face questions like 'is that the end?' and 'are you finished?'.

"To say the right thing and what you believe without making yourself look foolish is difficult.

"The atmosphere right now is euphoric and I'm happy about that because you need to take all the good moments that come in football.

"But it's not finished yet and the euphoria of this week could turn into sadness next Sunday if we're relegated.

"But if that happens, and most people thought it would happen long before this, then we will have gone down fighting and playing football.

"The players will have to be ready to play a cup final against Portsmouth.

"I'm just happy we've got the chance because after the Liverpool defeat it looked like it would take a miracle to survive."