Clint Dempsey strains hamstring, out of USMNT friendlies

Clint Dempsey will not play in the United States' friendlies against Denmark and Switzerland. The American captain suffered a hamstring strain in his first training session with the national team and he returned to the U.S., where he will rest and rehab with the Seattle Sounders.

Jurgen Klinsmann will not call up any players to replace Dempsey for the two friendlies. The team will go forward with 22 players, which is more than enough for two matches and a week of training.

The good news is that Dempsey's injury does not appear to be serious. While a release from U.S. Soccer said that he will miss 2-3 weeks with his hamstring injury, Klinsmann said that he expects Dempsey to be fit for the Sounders' next match. He also hinted that if this were a World Cup, Dempsey could have played next week against Switzerland, but with them just being friendlies, it was more important that he rest and make sure he is completely fit.

With Dempsey out, Klinsmann will have to rearrange his front two. He had planned on using Dempsey next to Jozy Altidore, a combination we are likely to see at this summer's Gold Cup, but that won't be the case now. Now, Klinsmann has to choose between Aron Johannsson, who is back with the U.S. for the first time since the World Cup after an injury-filled fall, and Rubio Rubin, a teenager who has been impressing with Utrecht. Both players are likely to get time and it's possible that one starts the first match and the other starts the second. Klinsmann could also tinker with using Altidore as a lone striker.