Gabon international Cousin, 31, had arrived at Ibrox in early August from Lens, whom he played some 20 minutes for in a French league game.

However, when the forward looked set for a switch south to London, and had spent time training with the Cottagers, the transfer was vetoed under FIFA regulations preventing players featuring for three clubs in the same season.

Nevertheless, both Fulham and Rangers are still hopeful special dispensation will be granted, as everything had been completed, in principle, ahead of the closure of the transfer window on January 31.

Hodgson insisted: "Yes, it is still alive.

"FIFA have requested further documents and I believe that one of their important executive committee members, who chairs the necessary commission which looks into these things, will consider the case on his return from the African Nations Cup.

"Hopefully then, we will get an answer - hopefully positive, but, even if it was negative, at least we would know where we are.

"But, at the moment we are awaiting that decision.

"Will it be next week? I don't know. FIFA have not yet said, we have not been told a date."

Hodgson continued: "I am more disappointed for Daniel Cousin, because he came here in good faith, and we took him here in good faith, and Rangers reluctantly agreed to sell him to us.

"And then, all of a sudden, because of this 20 minutes he finds himself in some sort of limbo.

"I'm still in contact with [Rangers boss] Walter Smith - we've been going past each other for two days, leaving voice messages - but I will be in touch with him, to find out what he thinks about the situation, and what the next move is."

Ultimately, though, Hodgson admits there is little either party can do, as the final decision now rests with the game's world governing body.

He said: "I suppose you could say it's frustrating, but, things you have no control over, there's not a lot of point in really letting them frustrate you.

"We don't control FIFA commissions and FIFA dates when they look at things, FIFA do.

"All we can do is ask them when that date is and they will give us the answer."

Hodgson, however, sees no reason why the deal should not be allowed to go through should FIFA give the green light.

"It's retro-active, if it's ratified, yes, he can play for us," insisted the Fulham manager.

"We've done all of this within the transfer window, and if the appeal is heard, it's a bit like the Benjani situation between Manchester City and Portsmouth."

Fulham breathed new life into their battle to stay in the Premier League with a hard-earned victory over Aston Villa last Sunday.

Hodgson, though, knows that will count for little should the Cottagers fail to build on their performance when they travel to Middlesbrough this weekend.

"I get the feeling the more we work together, the better they know me and the better we play - hopefully that will be good enough to keep us up," said Hodgson, who took over from axed Lawrie Sanchez in late December.

"I feel more comfortable all the time, and am hoping over the next 13 games things will be on something more of an even plane.

"It is up to us to show we are good enough to stay in this league."

Hodgson insisted: "However, the moment we start believing that because we have got a result somewhere, it means things are going to change and will become much easier, that would be a very foolish step.

"We have to accept that every game is a real test and a challenge - unless we can reproduce 13 times what we did against Aston Villa then we can get beat and will be divorced again - what advantage we have in being brought closer to the mix will be lost."

Fulham have had 12 senior players away on international duty this week and Hodgson admits he expects "some will be tired" on their return to west London.

However, Hameur Bouazza has been granted special leave to deal with a family matter after his mother was taken ill.

American striker Brian McBride is, though, in contention to start following his return to fitness after a serious knee injury suffered against Boro at Craven Cottage back in August.