Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard hopes to keep a cleansheet against Fulham's USA striker Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey has been in scintillating form of late, with two hat-tricks in his last three games taking his tally for the Cottagers this season to 15 goals, and Howard is in no doubt that the forward is someone the Toffees will need to pay special attention to.

"Without any disrespect to Fulham, I think Clint's been their best player for quite a while," Howard told evertontv.

"It seems year after year they begin to rely more and more on his presence, on his goals and on his leadership.

"I know Clint has been on a wonderful scoring run but hopefully we can keep him out and keep him quiet."