Fulham striker Eddie Johnson admits he came close to signing for Derby County last year.

"Last summer Derby County came in and made an offer to The MLS to bring me over to The Premier League, but at that time I still thought that I had something to prove in The MLS, not only to myself but as a player playing in that league," USA international Johnson told Fulham's website.

"This was a high risk decision because teams in The Premier League might have thought I was turning down a move so would never be interested.

"I knew, though, that if I worked hard and got some goals then the interest would still be there and God willing teams would come in for me again, which is what happened with Fulham."