Dynamo-Sounders Preview

Clint Dempsey is ready to return for the Seattle Sounders from a strained right hamstring that kept him from playing for the United States national team.

That's bad news for a Houston Dynamo team that is also getting players back but struggling to score as it heads to a difficult venue.

The visiting team has never won in the history of this series, and it's up to the Dynamo to try to change that Saturday night against a Seattle club eager to get back on track.

Dempsey hurt himself March 23 while training with the U.S. in Zurich, Switzerland. He flew home and was expected to miss two to three weeks with the injury, though he has returned to practice with the Sounders.

The superstar heads into this weekend tied for the league lead with three goals and insists he wants to start. Dempsey has never scored in four career games against the Dynamo.

"That's not really up to me, but I've felt good in training, my numbers look good," Dempsey said. "I'll be wanting to start, so we'll see what happens."

Seattle (1-1-1) will have a full roster available. Marco Pappa missed last Saturday's scoreless draw at FC Dallas while he was with Guatemala, and Osvaldo Alonso, Obafemi Martins and Chad Marshall are all back from injuries.

Houston (1-1-2) is 4-0-1 at home in this series and 0-4-2 on the road, including a 2-0 defeat in last season's lone matchup. Dynamo star Brad Davis failed to score on a penalty kick in the first half in that contest, and Pappa and Gonzalo Pineda came through with second-half goals as Seattle prevailed despite a late red card to Martins.

The Dynamo were without four key players in last Saturday's scoreless home draw with Colorado due to international absences. Jamaicans Giles Barnes and Jermaine Taylor and Honduran players Boniek Garcia and Luis Garrido are back now.

New Houston coach Owen Coyle brought a glittering resume to MLS after coaching in the English Premier League. What he hasn't brought is any semblance of a free-flowing attack, with the Dynamo producing a league-low eight shots on target.

Barnes, who has one of Houston's two goals, says the club must take more chances.

"If you look at the chances we've had, it's about being a bit more clinical," Barnes told the Dynamo's official website. "I just say we need to use a bit more imagination. Sometimes that safe ball, for me, is a little bit too safe."

Will Bruin, who was second on the team with 10 goals in 2014, is still searching for his first of 2015. Davis has no assists after tying for ninth in the league with 11 a season ago.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid noted that Coyle began with a 4-4-2 formation and has recently been employing a 4-5-1. He's unsure whether Barnes and Bruin will be paired up front Saturday.

"I think (Coyle's) trying to find his team and they're trying to find him as well and their rhythm," Schmid said.