Clint Dempsey will start for the second consecutive time when the Seattle Sounders scrimmage the San Jose Earthquakes in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday (9:30 a.m. PT; SoundersFC.com).
Dempsey returned to the lineup for the first time since last August in Saturday’s 1-1 Desert Diamond friendly draw with the Portland Timbers. Dempsey, 33, has been recovering from an irregular heartbeat but has been back in full training and is slowly working his way to full match fitness.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer played Dempsey for 30 minutes on Saturday before substituting him in the first half and said Dempsey’s recovery is “going as scheduled.” Schmetzer expects to play him more as the Sounders’ preseason continues.
“I’ve worked to get back in the position of being on the field, now it’s just about getting sharper, getting touches a little better, passes a little better,” Dempsey said Saturday. “I’m looking forward to that process and hopefully being ready for the start of the season.”
Here is the Sounders’ first-half lineup against the Earthquakes (Note: There will be a second-half lineup released at halftime).
FIRST HALF LINEUP (FORMATION: 4-2-3-1)
GK: Miller (1)
RB: Nana-Sinkam (52)
CB: Torres (29)
CB: Alfaro (15)
LB: Tolo (45)
CM: Svensson (4)
CM: Roldan (7)
RM: Lodeiro (10)
AM: Dempsey (2)
LM: Fernandez (8)
FW: Bruin (17)
NOTES:
- The Sounders will start eight of the same players as they did against the Timbers with Roman Torres, Nouhou Tolo and Brian Nana-Sinkam joining the first-half team.
- Torres makes his preseason debut after sitting out against Portland.
- Tyler Miller starts in goal for the second straight match after going the full 90 minutes on Saturday.
