Go ahead and put Clint Dempsey on the list of US International players struck by injury. While playing with his English Premier League club, Fulham FC, Dempsey suffered a knee injury that cast further doubts in the minds of US supporters already unsure whether the team that manager Bob Bradley is left with will be able to compete in South Africa. Although it has been announced that his injury will not require surgery, Dempsey joins Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu as players who have suffered untimely injuries leading up to the world cup.
Onyewu tore his patellar tendon when he landed awkwardly after going up for a header in a U.S. Qualifier against Costa Rica in October. Injury reports initially had the stellar defender out 3-4 months but, after undergoing surgery, it looks as though he won’t be ready to play until April, only two months before the beginning of the World Cup. To make matters worse, Onyewu’s injury came only a day after forward Charlie Davies was involved in a car accident. He suffered fractures to his tibia, femur, elbow and face and was initially told that he would be out of action for a year. Fortunately, recent reports indicate that Davies is recovering ahead of schedule and he is determined to return to the team in time for the World Cup.
As it stands, the US side could be down three key players. Even if Davies, Dempsey and Onyewu are able to play in the World Cup, there will be serious doubts concerning their fitness after having been out of play for an extended period of time. The US side is one that needs everything to fall right for it to really make some noise this summer and, so far, little has gone right.
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