Clint Dempsey feels like he has found a steady rhythm with the Seattle Sounders this season.
The USA national team captain joined the Sounders from Premier League club Tottenham in August last year and says admittedly that he did not perform to his best upon his MLS return.
Dempsey netted just one goal in 12 appearances for Seattle in 2013 but this season already has four goals to his name in just three outings.
The former Fulham star suggests his brilliant beginning to 2014 is down to him getting things right in the offseason and not having to fall behind as he did when he first arrived at CenturyLink Field.
"I think it was tough for me playing catch-up," Dempsey told reporters on Tuesday.
"Doing preseason with Tottenham and joining a league where everybody was past midseason form. Adjusting to playing games and the travel and the turf and the toll it takes on you.
"I picked up a few injuries, and it seemed like I was always trying to climb a mountain to get things right.
"Now I feel good. I feel like I'm in a rhythm because of that fitness and feeling sharp and feeling strong I was able to come in here and to have more of an impact on games."
Dempsey scored a hat-trick in the weekend's 4-4 draw with Portland Timbers at Providence Park and the Texas native suggests it is due to him receiving more scoring opportunities from his teammates.
"I feel like this season I'm getting more looks in the final third," he added. "People are playing me in, where if you look at the games in the past I wasn't really getting clear-cut chances in games and that was frustrating.
"Now I'm getting better looks, people are trying to find me more, and I'm able to get on the end of things and put them in the back of the net."
