Clint Dempsey injury at Fulham – blessing for U.S. team?

The little side from West London has already played 56 matches this year. The number rises to 61 if you include five friendlies in July.

That’s a lot of wear on the tires. And there’s more ahead with at least six more matches in Premiership play and Europa League action. You'll hear a lot more about all this in the coming weeks, as analysts debate how the long seasons creates player fatigued before a World Cup.

Meanwhile, Clint Dempsey has recently collected a thigh injury but should be on the bus (literally … check out this story of the loooong journey into northern Germany) when the team loads up the family truckster for travel into Hamburg for Thursday’s semifinal. (Our man on the Fulham beat, Russ Goldman, will have all the 411 on that match at Cottagers Confidential.)

So I started wondering if Dempsey’s injury absence in late winter / early spring won’t turn into the proverbial blessing in disguise come June?

The American attacker has played in just 25 matches this year (appearing only twice as a sub during that time for the men of Craven Cottage). So, assuming he doesn’t do anything rash – like attempt to return too soon from injury – the setback might be anything but. As his wounded knee healed up last month, he was also regenerating muscle tissue and healing up the little knocks and niggles, as managers like to say.

As for losing fitness, he should have plenty of time to get his legs and lungs. When the Americans begin workouts on May 17 a primary goal will be to establish a substantial base of fitness. (I plan to write more about that later this week for SI.com.)

So, life does sometimes work in mysterious ways. We’ll see if Dempsey’s injuries prove a bit fortuitous for the U.S. cause.