The Australia international is pushing towards 40, but nevertheless he is keen to keep playing at the highest level.

“It’s great, I am living the dream,” the veteran stopper told Sky Sports.

“I am playing football at the highest level and I am almost 40 years old.

“There are not too many of us that can say that so I am still playing because I love playing.

“As long as you love playing and you’re still good enough to play at this level then I want to continue.

“I still have ambitions to go and represent Australia in another World Cup in 2014, that is my ultimate goal and I am working towards it,” he concluded.

Schwarzer’s current deal at Craven Cottage runs until the summer of 2013.

By Gareth McKnight

So whether it’s team mates coming to blows, the paparazzi snapping players boozing it up or just stupid and bizarre actions, they make it onto the list. What didn’t make it was the England WAGS from the 2006 World Cup, they reportedly distracted the players during the tournament and although it wasn’t the players misbehaving themselves, they nearly made it into the top ten. Also, quite a few people recommended Cristiano Ronaldo photographed in speedo’s as a criminal activity, but again it failed to make the ten below…..

Click on Gazza below to see the Top TEN!

Compiled by Matt Freebody

But was there really any real transfer speculation circulating over Deuce’s head during the window of opportunity for many potential suitors? The answer was not really. Clubs seemed far more interested in his injury-plagued strike partner Andy Johnson.

What is more surprising is that when you look closely at Dempsey’s stats, they make for some impressive reading, questioning just why the lack of interest?

Statistics clearly show that Dempsey is the highest scoring American to have played in the Premier League. He currently boasts a tally of 43 goals for the Cottagers. What’s more is that he has struck more goals for the club than any other player in eleven consecutive seasons, and often vacates the left midfield role, failing Martin Jol’s decisions to play him as a centre forward. Still not impressed?

The football public have at times pondered whether an American with such a good pedigree could cut it at a traditional top four club, say an Arsenal or Chelsea. But in five years, no such club has got the cheque book out to acquire his services.

Let us examine his strengths; beside his innate rapping abilities. Dempsey is immensely versatile and has been used on the flanks for most of his Fulham career, but his tall 6ft1 frame has enabled him to hold the ball up well in a centre-forwards role during Bobby Zamora’s absences. It remains to be confirmed whether Dempsey will fulfil this role until the end of the season, as he did in the recent game at City, or whether Russian new boy Pavel Pogrebnyak will fill the void left by Zamora’s move to W12.

Moreover, Clint is highly experienced, winning 82 caps for Jurgen Klinsmann’s Stars & Stripes since his national team debut in 2004, earning a reputation as a hard-working professional with a never say day attitude. Surely traits such as these could be welcomed into the underachieving ranks of fellow Londoners; Arsenal and Chelsea this season?

Current TalkSport pundit Andy Gray told the Fulham Chronicle

“I never feel cheated when I see Clint play, he does it all and works extremely hard for the team”.

If we look back in Premier League history, few American’s have ‘made it’ as such at traditional top four clubs. Failing, Tim Howard’s move to Manchester United back in 2003 where he made 45 appearances, you are hard pressed to find United States internationals at the top end of English football.

American hero Claudio Reyna had a spell at Manchester City, but City have improved into a more established outfit since the start of the 00’s. Elsewhere, Everton have embraced many talents from across the pond including Joe-Max Moore, Brian McBride and currently Landon Donovan. And up the M62 at Bolton, they currently employ Stuart Holden and Tim Ream.

But the question still remains whether Dempsey will one day get a move to a club playing at the elite European level. Clint himself may harbour Champions League ambitions but first he will look to help Fulham battle through the mid-reaches of the Premier League and balance the clubs targets between survival and a top ten finish.

Is Clint good enough to move to a top four club or should he remain at the Cottage? Follow me @http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

The Captaincy Debate

Perhaps the most in-form player in the Premier League outside of the top six is Stéphane Sessegnon. Playing in a role just behind the striker has meant he’s been getting into plenty of dangerous positions as the statistics show. Only once in his last eight league games has the Benin international failed to pick up a goal or an assist. Arsenal make the long trip to the North East on Saturday. The Gunners have the third worst defence away from home and Martin O’Neill will be hoping Sessegnon can take full advantage of this.

Maybe Fulham‘s Clint Dempsey takes your fancy though. The top scoring American in the history of the Premier League has been the Whites most prolific force of late. With the departure of Bobby Zamora, Dempsey now has added responsibility when it comes to scoring the goals. He comes up against Stoke on Saturday, a side he has a history of netting against. In the corresponding fixtures last year, he bagged a double and Fulham could do with a repeat performance on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney’s form this season has been sporadic but when he’s found it, the England forward has been brilliant. Last weekend’s two goals from the spot against Chelsea were impressively dispatched considering Rooney has missed two spot kicks this season. What’s more, they were his first strikes since December. Perhaps it will mark the beginning of a run of form for Rooney, who looks a good shout to net against Liverpool in the game of the weekend.

However, if Spurs are playing at home, it’s hard to ignore Gareth Bale’s presence. In his last eight at White Hart Lane, the Welshman has five goals and six assists. Newcastle will not be easy pickings for Spurs by any means though. In fact, every team who has overcome the Toon this campaign has had to score at least three goals. Spurs certainly have the firepower to do this and Bale will be crucial to any possible victory in Saturday’s late kick off.

Captain: Gareth Bale – If in doubt, give it to the most dangerous winger in the Premier League at the moment. Expect Bale to make an impact of some sort at White Hart Lane.

Vice Captain: Wayne Rooney – Just under a year ago, Rooney rose to the occasion with a mercurial bicycle kick against Manchester City. The England forward is certainly capable of providing another special moment against another one of United’s fierce rivals – Liverpool.

Long Term Look

This column may appear to have a Sunderland bias of late but ultimately they are the in-form team in the Premier League which can’t be ignored. Having said to include Sessegnon a few weeks back, it’s time to recommend some more Black Cats to put in your side. So why not compliment Benin’s finest with Phil Bardsley and James McClean. Both are priced under £5 million and have been racking up the points of late.

Bardsley has been part of a defence which has kept clean sheets in four of its last six games. What’s more the Scottish international is more than capable of an assist as is Irish winger James McClean. The 22-year-old who only made his Sunderland debut in December has two goals and two assists to his name in six starts for the Mackems.

Your team perhaps doesn’t need both Sessegnon and McClean in midfield, one will suffice but as his price suggests, Stéphane Sessegnon is more likely to guarantee you points on a regular basis. Either way, having Sunderland players looks to be very beneficial at this moment in time!

For more on the Premier League, follow @arhindtutt on Twitter

The standard of football between the two divisions has improved vastly over the last several seasons and this season sees the quality of the Championship as good as it ever has been. In defence of these players, there is of course a higher standard of football despite the dip in margin. For example, strikers are up against better teams and while they might have got 10 chances per game in the Football League, they may only get the odd few in the Prem.

So what unfortunate ten make my top ten list of players who are Championship rather than Premier League quality? Find out below…

Click on Routledge below to see the Top TEN

Game of the Weekend

Sometimes games involving the top four fail to live up to the preceding hype. Manchester United’s visit to Chelsea on Sunday cannot be included in that category though. The six goal thriller at Stamford Bridge demonstrated English football at its’ passionate best. Criticism is occasionally aimed at the style of play in the Premier League in that every piece of play must contribute to a goal scoring move. In this case, it only added to what was a thrilling spectacle, if you’re not a Chelsea fan that is. For Manchester United an inspirational comeback. When fans of the Red Devils do eventually calm down, they may be frustrated that they lost ground on Manchester City though.

Player of the Weekend

It is a worrying prospect for Arsenal fans to consider their team without Robin van Persie Yet again he provided a telling contribution against a weak Blackburn side effortlessly thrashed by the imperious Gunners on Saturday. A hat trick for the Dutchman is hardly a special occasion these days but it took him to 22 goals for the season. Gooners will be hoping he can fire Arsenal into the top four places otherwise they risk losing their star forward in the summer.

Goal of the Weekend

Over the course of the season Juan Mata has proved to be a dangerous attacking force. He showed that once again with a stunning volley against Manchester United. The technique he displayed to smash the ball into the roof of the net was sublime.

However, what added to the quality of the strike was the cross supplied by Fernando Torres. He may not be having much luck in front of the goal but the Spaniard’s ball into his fellow countryman was pinpoint.

Save of the Weekend

When Bobby Zamora netted for QPR early on against Wolves, Mick McCarthy must have feared the worst. However, Djibril Cissé’s sending off changed the dynamic of the game. Having turned the match on it’s head through goals from Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle, Wolves had Wayne Hennessey to thank for making sure they took three points back to the West Midlands.

His late finger-tip save from Adel Taarabt’s rising effort proved vital. The 25-year-old Welshamn narrowly edges out David De Gea’s stop from Juan Mata’s curling free kick. The Spanish ‘keeper has received plenty of criticism but he must be applauded for ensuring United’s impressive comeback was kept intact.

Honourable Mention: David De Gea

Quote of the Weekend

Settle down children, its story time with Mick McCarthy! After Djibril Cissé’s sending off on Saturday, the Wolves boss recounts an old tale in his post match interview.

“The rules are you can’t grab anyone by the face now and push them in the throat . Was it a sending off in my day? No, was it heck.”

If you say so Mick.  When men were men etc.

For more on the Premier League, follow @arhindtutt

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Pogrebnyak joined The Cottagers from Stuttgart on a six-month loan deal on transfer deadline day, as Zamora was sold to London rivals QPR.

The Dutch coach is aware that his new forward represents a gamble, but is hoping that Pogrebnyak can recapture the form that saw him shoot to fame in his earlier career.

“He’s not had a great couple of years, but if he had we wouldn’t have got him,” Jol told Mirror Football.

I spoke to (Russia boss) Dick ­Advocaat and (predecessor) Guus Hiddink about him and they told me he’s got 45 caps and he’s had some great spells.

“It’s a very good opportunity for him and us, but he has to prove it now,” the trainer challenged.

Pogrebnyak is currently waiting for a work permit for England, and hopes to make his Premier League debut for the Craven Cottage side against Stoke on Saturday.

By Gareth McKnight

Bullard’s antics got me thinking about other footballers and managers who had put their football club in a extremely embarrassing position with their actions off the pitch.

Bullard is certainly not the first and won’t be the last football personality to make the headlines for their alledged drinking. Many others have had extra-marital affairs to the detriment to their career in football but we hear less about these now because of the rise of injunctions that prevent publishing details of these affairs. However we normally get to hear about them eventually, isn’t that right Mr Giggs?

Click on Bullard below to see the Top Ten

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Here is a countdown of ten players who in any normal circumstances might have asked to be substituted as a result of their injuries, but stayed on to fight for the cause. Some were ultimately successful, some not so, however all ten can be said to have put in remarkable performances despite their injury problems and setbacks.

Click on Terry Butcher below to see the Top TEN

Now, not many of us actually know Premier League players on a personal level, but we can pretty much garner all we need to know about someone from their attitude on the pitch. Some players such as Paul Scholes for example, will never be truly hated, which is somewhat surprising considering he’s fouled every single Premier League player at least twice, because they just get on with the game in a quiet manner. However for every Paul Scholes, there’s a Robbie Savage, the sort of player that even some of his own fans struggle to find a fondness for. Here’s my own personal Premier League XI made up of players you’d rather glass, than have a pint with.

Click on William Gallas below to see the Most Hated Premier League XI of all time

Compiled by Justin Mottershead