Sounders star forward Clint Dempsey will indeed be in the starting lineup Saturday in Houston when they open defense of their Major League Soccer championship.
So will forward Jordan Morris, midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and goalkeeper Stefan Frei, though how many minutes each plays, or subsequent March starts they’ll make, remains to be determined. Their status, with each working back from varying degrees of health issues, are part of a Herculean challenge the team inherited almost the moment it hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy last December to celebrate Seattle’s inaugural MLS Cup victory over Toronto FC.