Clint Dempsey on verge of Landon Donovan's U.S. men's national team goal record

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Clint Dempsey's aim Thursday is clear: help the U.S. national team gain three points and continue bolstering a once-sluggish World Cup qualifying effort midway through the CONCACAF schedule.

Nothing else matter, he says. Not whether he starts or comes off the bench, pockets another goal or earns credit for an assist.

Getting to Russia next summer – for what would be his fourth World Cup – is the only item on Deuce's agenda.

Personal honors? Pfff.

"The most important thing is qualifying for the World Cup, so that's what we're trying to do. Most important thing," he said in his Texas drawl after Tuesday's training at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. "You get chances, you obviously try to score every game. That doesn't change. Same mentality."

What is different, however, is that, with his next goal, Dempsey will catch Landon Donovan for the program's career scoring record. The next opportunity for both personal milestone and national team achievement comes Thursday against Trinidad and Tobago and Sunday at Mexico.

Between 2000 and 2014, Donovan notched 57 goals in 157 international matches. Since 2004, Dempsey has scored 56 in 132 appearances.

Early this year, he recovered from a heart ailment to resume a pro career that began in Foxborough, Mass., more than a dozen years ago, carried him to southwest London and north London, then to Seattle, where he's entrenched in his fourth full season with the reigning champion Sounders.

Any concerns about his international capacity were put to rest in March with a hat trick against Honduras and a goal in Panama, putting him on the brink of Donovan's benchmark. A 63-minute stint in a friendly against Venezuela on Saturday failed to yield a goal. In all likelihood, he'll be back in the lineup Thursday against the Soca Warriors.

"He's not a number nine [striker], but he has got the mentality of a nine in terms of knowing where the ball is going to pop up," said striker Jozy Altidore, 27, who has scored 37 times in 102 matches. "That is what makes him successful over a number of years because you can't always score the 'golazos'. He's able to score those grimy goals, and that's why he's so important to us and that's why he has done it for such a long time."

– A home victory, coupled with expected results elsewhere in CONCACAF over the next week, would leave the Americans in decent position, whether or not they collect any points in Mexico City.

How so?

Trinidad (three points) must play away against both the United States and Costa Rica.

Honduras (four points) must play away against both Mexico and Panama.

Panama (five points) will visit Costa Rica and host Honduras.

By next Tuesday night, T&T and Honduras could find themselves in big trouble and confront a steep climb to catch Mexico (10 points), Costa Rica (seven), Panama (five) and the United States (four) in the last four matches for each of the six teams. Three will earn automatic berths, while a fourth will enter a playoff against an Asian side.

The Americans' last two away matches are against Honduras and T&T. The home games are with Costa Rica and Panama.

– Despite the Mexico showdown less than a week away, the U.S. players say they are not looking past last-place Trinidad and Tobago.

"It's an important game," Altidore said. "Look at the table – we're still not where we want to be. . . . When you're younger, you probably look at the more attractive game, but the Trinidad game is also important and attractive in its own way. That's the focus right now."

– Only the United States-Mexico match is taking place Sunday; the other two – Panama-Honduras and Costa Rica-T&T – are Tuesday, June 13.

Why? Mexico needs to get to Russia for the FIFA Confederations Cup, which will begin June 17. As part of the agreement to play on two days' rest in Mexico City, Sunday's game will kick off at 7:30 local time instead of under the midday sun.

– Defender John Brooks (bruised quadriceps) participated in full workouts Tuesday and, barring a late setback, should be available for selection Thursday and Sunday.

– The starting time of Thursday's match is listed as 5:50 p.m. local. Actual kickoff time: 6 p.m. local, 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Pacific. FS1, UniMas and Univision Deportes will provide coverage. Digital viewing is available on Fox Sports Go, foxsoccer2go.com, Univision Now and univisiondeportes.com.