It all felt very familiar for Clint Dempsey.
The pain and frustration of being ruled out for the season. And soon, the road to recovery.
When Jordan Morris went down with a torn ACL last week in El Salvador, Dempsey sympathized for his teammate. In August 2016, Dempsey was sidelined for the season with an irregular heartbeat.
“I got to talk to him a little bit,” Dempsey said on Wednesday following a training session at CenturyLink Field. “I know what it’s like to be out with injuries. You just have to find the positives and get your mind away from the game a little bit. Once you get back on the road to recovery, you’re one day closer to being back.”
It is an excruciating blow for Morris, both physically and mentally. After a difficult sophomore season in MLS where he battled a nagging ankle injury and hamstring strain, the 23-year-old Homegrown Player had an excellent preseason. He scored four goals in preseason matches, in addition to playing the full 90 minutes in an international friendly with the U.S. national team against Bosnia.
"He is a tough kid. He will bounce back,” Dempsey said. “There are other players who have come back stronger, so I don’t see it being any different for him. I just encourage him to stay positive and he knows if he needs anything, I am here for him. He has good people around him, he will bounce back.”
As for Dempsey, who turns 35 next week, his role with the Rave Green may shift in Morris’ absence. He has typically played in the midfield of the club’s 4-2-3-1 formation, often hanging around the edge of the area just behind the lone forward. With Will Bruin as the only experienced forward on the roster, Dempsey may stay higher up the pitch a bit more in the 2018.
“Obviously, it was a big loss with Jordan getting injured. we are going to miss him, for sure,” Dempsey said. “There is a lot of depth on this team. I think some of the play we had towards the end of last season was pretty exciting to watch, so hopefully we will be able to replicate that.”
Dempsey signed a one-year deal in the offseason, and he intends to give it his all after falling in MLS Cup last December in Toronto.
“You always have to set goals and push yourself to do something special. Last year we came up short. It was tough on the guys, and you use that as fuel to push harder.”
