Fulham boss Martin Jol admits the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov has lifted the club after last summer's departures.

Jol said he was also convinced his side would suffer after Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele went to Tottenham.

Their departures followed the exits of Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson and Danny Murphy.

But the arrival of Berbatov from Manchester United has boosted Fulham so much they are just outside the top six as they face struggling Sunderland at Craven Cottage tomorrow.

Jol said: "After Dempsey and Dembele left, everyone here was in denial and suffering depression, and we needed three days to get out of it. I was worried about the future. But then Berbatov began to show what a great capture he has been and how much he has influenced the side.

"He has shown his quality and helped us settle."