Clint Dempsey has been ruled out of the upcoming US World Cup qualifier with Honduras due to a slight shoulder sprain picked up on the weekend while playing for his club side Fulham.

Dempsey left Fulham's match with West Ham in the 84th minute and underwent an MRI today. The injury makes unavailable on of Bob Bradley's regular starters, and creates a hole on the right side of midfield. While Dempsey's play for the US has been generally regarded as less than stellar in recent months, he was a fairly consistent contributor and provided several key goals over the course of the qualifying campaign.

Bob Bradley will need to choose a replacement for Dempsey out of a group of young midfielders that include Robbie Rogers, Jose Francisco Torres, and Stuart Holden. Holden has see the most first team time for the US recently, and would figure to be the man to step into Dempsey's position.

What do you make of the loss of Dempsey, and who do you think Bradley should start in his stead?