It’s looking unlikely that Clint Dempsey will be ready to travel this weekend to face the LA Galaxy, despite his return to Sounders training last week. Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey commented when Dempsey returned last week that the player was only cleared by medical staff to train and exercise, not to play in matches. That status has not changed as of Tuesday, when Dempsey was not at the club’s training session.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer said he couldn’t comment on Dempsey’s status, only that “he’s in town, but not here.” Dempsey had participated in a number of sessions last week, drawing praise from Schmetzer, who said the player’s return boosted the squad’s spirits on the training pitch.