Fulham stuck in traffic jam

A MAJOR traffic jam was the latest in a long line of hurdles that Roy Hodgson's Fulham had to overcome before completing their 27-hour road trip to Hamburg for tonight's Europa League semi-final.

The 600-mile road trip was prolonged as both of the team's luxury coaches departed their hotel in the Westphalian city of Munster, where they stayed on Tuesday night after leaving London in the afternoon.

A lorry had jack-knifed on the Autobahn, causing the coaches to remain at a standstill for three hours and delaying the team's arrival in the city which, in turn, delayed the team's much-needed physio session. But Hodgson was nonetheless upbeat ahead of the match.

"We were on the road for seventeen hours.

The plan was to arrive here at 1.30pm to have lunch and that would have given us all afternoon for the physio to work with the players.

"Because of the delay, they didn't get to look at them until 5pm, which is a further disadvantage, but I hope that won't hamper us.

"It will be a little bit harder for us. It is not ideal preparation for an important game."

United States forward Clint Dempsey could start after he overcame a thigh injury which has ruled him out of the last three games.