Seattle Sounders forward, and U.S. international, Clint Dempsey is being evaluated for an irregular heartbeat according to the Sounders official website. Dempsey did not travel with the team for their mid-week game against the Houston Dynamo and it appears this is why. Dempsey will be held out of this weekend’s game against the Portland Timbers. As the process unfolds and more information is gathered, no other details are being made publicly available at this time.
Big blow to Dempsey and Sounders
As of late, Dempsey has been on a roll. He has scored five goals in his last three games and was named MLS Player of the Week after his brace against the Timbers last Sunday at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders are in the midst of a five-game unbeaten streak since the end of July.
Dempsey has eight goals and two assists in 17 MLS appearances this season. In 82 appearances overall with the Sounders, he has 37 goals and 23 assists in the regular season and postseason play since joining the club in August of 2013.
With the addition of Nicolás Lodeiro, Dempsey found the form he had during 2014 and 2015 MLS seasons when he and Obafemi Martins were considered one of the best one-two punches in MLS.
Health takes priority
Even though the Sounders are trying to make a late run and sneak into the playoffs for the eighth straight season, Dempsey’s heath takes priority over everything else. It is imperative that the Sounders make sure he is 100% healthy before putting him on the field again. Nothing is more important for Dempsey and his family.
What’s next
The Seattle Sounders travel to Providence Park to take on the Timbers for the third and final time this season. So far the two clubs have split the two games by identical 3-1 score lines. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm ET this Sunday and can be seen on ESPN.