GM ‘cautiously optimistic’ Clint Dempsey returns for the Sounders this season

Right before the Seattle Sounders headed down to Portland for their eventual 4-2 loss a few weeks ago, the club announced that Designated Player and forward Clint Dempsey would be unavailable indefinitely to undergo medical testing for an irregular heartbeat. On Wednesday, Dempsey returned to training with the club for the first time since his condition was announced.

Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey told the media after Wednesday’s training session that Dempsey had undergone a procedure, but that he and the club were not at liberty to discuss any details about it. Lagerwey made clear that Dempsey had been cleared by medical staff to train and exercise but not to play in matches yet.

“I will add that we are cautiously optimistic that he could return to play this season,” Lagerwey said.

Because the club wants to prioritize the player’s health, Lagerwey declined to put a timeline on a full return for Dempsey.

“We have a protocol to bring him back and allow him to begin exercising in a safe manner, and we’ll follow the protocol and we will adjust and consult constantly with the doctors and consult with Clint,” Lagewey said.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer didn’t provide any new details on the Dempsey’s status, but he did say that simply seeing the 33-year-old on the field raised the spirits of the rest of the squad and that “it translated into the tempo of training today.” Despite the fact that Dempsey still won’t be playing in the near future, Schmetzer stressed that importance of the player to the team.

“He’s a big personality, he’s ultra positive, he’s happy to be back here,” Schmetzer said. “Everything in that sense is good.”

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.