TORONTO - United States national team head coach Bruce Arena offered perhaps the most encouraging words in months considering the health of Clint Dempsey on Saturday night, telling Fox Sports that he wants to bring the Seattle Sounders star forward into the USMNT’s annual January camp next month.
Arena made the announcement just minutes before kickoff of the MLS Cup Final at BMO Field, adding that he’s hopeful Dempsey could be fit and able to play for the USMNT when the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers resume in March.
Dempsey traveled with the Sounders to Toronto this week and has been spotted at recent training sessions with the team, but he has not played for club or country since August, when it was discovered he was dealing with an irregular heartbeat.
The Sounders officially announced Dempsey’s season was over in September, and he did not appear for the USMNT in either of the team’s losses in World Cup qualifying last month.
Those losses ultimately led to the firing of Jurgen Klinsmann and Arena was promptly appointed his successor, ushering back in a familiar face in Dempsey’s career. Dempsey earned his first USMNT cap under Arena in 2004 and later starred for him at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
