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U.S. striker Clint Dempsey suffered 'moderate damage to a ligament in his right knee' in a match over the weekend playing for Fulham in the EPL, but no surgery is required.
While we are still awaiting official word regarding Clint Dempsey's injury suffered while playing in a match for Fulham in the Premier League (early word is that it's "cruciate knee ligament damage"), SB Nation's Daily Soccer Fix takes a look at how the U.S. Men's National Team can cope with Dempsey's loss if he is forced to miss the World Cup.
Shifting Landon Donovan to the right is an option, but then that weakens the team as a whole, so maybe not the best idea. Steve Davis at Daily Soccer Fix offers his suggestion: Stuart Holden.
For me, this is the option that makes the most sense, and one that actually presents a chance for minimal dropoff. Holden could become to 2010 what DaMarcus Beasley was to 2002: a young, relatively unknown (around the world, that is) winger who causes trouble with his pace and hustle. If you watched Holden at all last year with the Dynamo, you know that guy works his little dri-fit socks off. He's always chasing back to help holding midfielder Ricardo Clark.
I've said before that I think Holden's best spot is out wide. The Dynamo plays him inside because that's where he best fits the club. Fair enough. But if he catches on somewhere in England this winter - and I see that as a big possibility - I do believe it will be as a wide midfielder.
There's also DeMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers, Sacha Kljestan and Jose Francisco Torres. But Holden should still be the number one choice as Dempsey's replacement, if needed.
In my mind, Holden is the best hope. He's got something. He may be as close as this team can come to replacing Dempsey with a dynamic, confident presence, one capable of seizing initiative through bold action. Technical proficiency isn't a problem. Heart and effort aren't a problem. His mad moment against Everton at last year's MLS All-Star game may raise some red flags, but in the absence of further evidence that he can't stomach the big stage, we can call that one a one-off accident for now.
While playing in an English Premier League match for Fulham on Sunday, Clint Dempsey, forward for the U.S. Men's National Team, suffered a knee injury. It was not immediately known what damage was done, but Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said, "The initial prognosis for Clint is not good."
"It looks he has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage which if he has keeps him out of action for a while."
Dempsey has been a key player for Fulham this season playing 25 times and scoring seven goals and before he was injured he hit the crossbar with a spectacular overhead kick.
"We won't know for certain until the scan is completed on Monday but the doctors are pretty good these days and often their initial prognosis proves to be the correct one," added Hodgson.
It's obviously a blow to Fulhum, but also the U.S. Men's team as they prepare for the World Cup -- their first match is scheduled against England on June 12.
U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said the U.S. Soccer Federation training staff had been in contact with Dempsey, and the severity of the injury will not been known until after an MRI exam determines the exact ligament hurt and whether there is other damage.
The U.S. team is already likely to be without forward Charlie Davies in South Africa because of injuries sustained in a car crash last October, and defender Oguchi Onyewu is sidelined until spring following knee surgery.
Dempsey Suffers 'Moderate Damage,' No Surgery Required
According to Fulham's official club site, Clint Dempsey suffered "moderate damage to a ligament in his right knee." Which is vague ... excuse me, "cheeky." But what is clear is that surgery is not required, and better yet, Dempsey is not expected to even miss the entire Premier League season.
After the weekend's scare and subsequent gloom and doom, this has to be considered a best case scenario for American soccer heading into this summer's World Cup.
Jan 19 6:32p by Ryan Hudson - 0 comments