Clint Dempsey is back.
For the first time in nearly six months, the Seattle Sounders striker will take the field when he starts for head coach Brian Schmetzer in a Desert Diamond friendly against the Portland Timbers in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday (5:30 p.m. PT; SoundersFC.com, Facebook.com/SoundersFC)
Dempsey, 33, has been sidelined since late last August while recovering from an irregular heartbeat, and the Sounders eventually ruled him out for the remainder of the season in September. He scored eight goals in 17 games in 2016.
The United States’ second all-time leading scorer was medically cleared to play heading into preseason and has been in full training with the club.