Clint Dempsey did not make the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for January camp, but Bruce Arena and his coaching staff have a plan.
“We’ve been following with Clint and communicating with Seattle and Clint’s making great progress,” Arena said on a conference call with reporters. “He’s going through his progressions in Seattle, and at this time he’s not fully ready to come into our camp.”
The 33-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the 2016 season in September due to an irregular heartbeat. He was participating in light training with the Seattle Sounders before the MLS Cup final in December, but was unavailable to play.
However, Arena is confident that the forward is in line to return to the Sounders by March and potentially World Cup qualifying that same month.
“We really believe by March he’ll be ready to play in Seattle and be a possibility for our qualifiers in March.”
Dempsey scored eight goals in 17 appearances for the Sounders last season. He also recorded four goals in 10 caps with the USMNT in 2016.
He needs a proper send off match. Play his rap video at halftime.The whole nine yards.
He’s done… He served the NT well. Shouldn’t risk it, he’s made his money also. No shame in moving on and it’s best if he calls it now.
I certainly hope the best for him, but is isn’t realistic to call him in for WCQ if he hasn’t played a competitive match in 6+ months.
I agree, but I think he is pushing for the USMNT scoring record.
Want to see him play with Pulisic. Optimistic they would play well, since they both read the game so well.
You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger champion of Dempsey’s game, attitude and place on any roster than me, but I’m open to moving on with his national team tenure.
It’s not that I don’t think he can still contribute, but if we’re being absolutely honest, he’s a bit of a black hole the last few years with the ball and I don’t see that complimenting a young player like Pulisic.
I get what you’re saying about Dempsey being like a black hole sometimes, but on the other hand, he pretty much carried the team during the Copa, and the team’s offense certainly didn’t improve in the subsequent games that he missed.
I hope Clint takes care of his health first, but if he were healthy, I’d have no doubt that he’d still make the USMNT better.
Go Dempsey. The whole nation, especially Sounders fans are pulling for you, even if you don’t play.