Clint Dempsey Set To Make Return After Six-Month Hiatus

After a six-month hiatus due to an irregular heartbeat, Clint Dempsey is expected to make his return for the Seattle Sounders against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

.@SoundersFC clear @clint_dempsey to return to action for season opener against Houston: https://t.co/nwqbNxRzkP pic.twitter.com/kYnet1KzPm

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 1, 2017

The last time that Dempsey played in a MLS game was on August 21, when the Sounders defeated the Portland Timbers by a score of 3-1. Dempsey scored two goals in that match, highlighting his importance to the club. Following the match, it was announced that Dempsey had an irregular heartbeat and would be forced to miss the rest of the season.

Dempsey has played in all of the Sounders' preseason games, getting increased playing time in every game. The organization are in no rush to push him to play a full 90 minutes, and they will be keeping a close eye on him during the match against the Dynamo.

According to Dempsey, the first time that he noticed something was off was last February, but it didn't become an issue until late last summer.

When it comes to the play of the Sounders, Dempsey is instrumental in attack, scoring a combined 35 goals for the Sounders in 65 total games since joining the team in 2014.