Clint Dempsey Ruled Out vs. Honduras

For fans of the U.S. national team clamoring for midfielder Clint Dempsey to move from the right side of midfield to the right side of the bench, well, they've gotten their wish, though the circumstances aren't exactly ideal.

Dempsey has been ruled out for Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifier at Honduras due to a shoulder sprain. Dempsey picked up the injury in the closing minutes of Fulham's 2-2 draw Sunday vs. West Ham United. His status for next Wednesday's final qualifier vs. Costa Rica in Washington is still unknown.

Dempsey's injury most likely means that Stuart Holden will get the nod at starting right midfielder. Holden shined during July's CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring goals and setting them up.

Though the injury forced coach Bob Bradley's hand, many U.S. fans had questioned the constant inclusion of Dempsey in the starting XI due to his sometimes listless and disinterested performances. Yet while Dempsey has a tendency to drift through matches, he does have the ability to rise to the occasion and score important goals including the first-half equalizer in the U.S's 2-1 win over El Salvador last month.

However it shakes out, the match vs. Honduras -- which the U.S. would punch its ticket to South Africa with a win -- will show the U.S. and U.S. fans what life without 90 minutes of Dempsey looks like. There's the chance the U.S. could soar, but the fans also might need to be careful what they wish for.