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Holden out six months after surgery reveals cartilage damage

Holden (Getty Images)

The news went from bad to worse for Stuart Holden in a matter of hours.

Previously thought to be missing six weeks of action after needing a routine follow-up procedure on his surgically repaired knee, now Holden is set to miss the next six months of action, according to his club, Bolton.

Holden reportedly underwent the procedure on Wednesday and it revealed cartilage damage, which severely alters his recovery timeline.

"It is a big, big blow for Stuart because he has worked so hard after he sustained the injury, but obviously the most important aspect is to ensure Stuart's well being and that's what we are focused on," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said on the club's website. "He went in for the procedure this afternoon and it was picked up that the cartilage was damaged and needed to be repaired, which has now happened, and we will now support Stuart as he begins his recovery."

Comments

  1. so does this mean he was rushed back before his knee was really ready to hold up to the rigors of professional football? Or is this a fluke thing?

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  2. No one is comparing the SKILL LEVELS between JOB and Holden.

    Like the title says, its about being out due to injuries.

    Only thing we need to worry about is him coming back fully healthy and getting a chance to start for the USMNT.

    He should’ve started in the WC over Ricardo Clark after battling back to get to the WC and playing friendlies beforehand to show he had fitness.

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  3. Jeff: a fine example of the douchebaggery that ensues on the comments section of this site. you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. Marquez himself has been a huge reason for the defensive frailty of the Red Bulls. yea, Ream isn’t perfect, but a defensive unit is just that: a unit. regardless of how you feel about your teammates, you never say that crap to the media, even if it is true, which it isn’t

    you. are. a. tool

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  4. Well….JOB did manage to play 90 minutes in every match in one of the very best individual WC performances in US history. In the most successful US WC ever at that. So from a purely USMNT perspective, if we get that out of Holden, I would still be fairly happy.

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  5. That’s a very mature, positive example for all the young players who come to this fine site. Or maybe you’re 12 yourself. Either way, revenge through injury isn’t the answer. Never was, never will be.

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  6. While I’m sure Stu’s devastated, and a lot of players in his position would be losing it about now and rightfully so, I have to believe if any player can come through this – it’s him. Kid is so positive, good energy and that can take you far.

    I keep hear Reyna explaining all his injuries away when the Red Bulls siging him saying the doctors told him that he missed close to three years with the various injuries combined, the good news is his body was that of a 29 year old, not a 32 year old (or whatever his age was). Well, we see how that turned out.

    Let’s hope for the best the best and push away those thoughts of JOB 2.0.

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  7. That’s really bad news…repairing cartilage damage can be very difficult. Six months is essentially the season. What a blow to his promising career…This is the very reason that FIFA needs to crack down on hacks like DeJong and Evans. Tackles like that deserve LONG suspensions.

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  8. Why dont you do what your user name is and HUSH because no one was even talking to you. Holden missing six months is not something that drastic where people got to use offensive profanity. SMH, get off my post you sound very ignorant.

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  9. I called Stu as the next John O early this year… I has hoping to be wrong.

    Sadly he could of been one of the best U.S players to have ever worn the jersey. Hope the best for him.

    🙁

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  10. That’s not really a good comparison.

    Stu is really popular and he is undoubtedly a fine player but he has never really made an impact on the USMNT.

    His greatest games have been for Bolton, not the US. Maybe Stu can do it in 2014 but he has done nothing yet.

    In contrast JOB played every minute of the 2002 World Cup,and was a vital part of arguably the US’ best effort ever. And he is arguably one of the best players the US has ever produced. Donovan said that.

    As for the injuries, JOB’s started piling up towards the end and eventually ended his career. Hopefully Holden will come back stronger from this one. He has always been rated as one of the USMNT’s fittest players along with Donovan so there is reason to hope he will have a long career.

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  11. “no injury can strip him of his best abilities, which are all mental.”

    I disagree.

    He’s an athlete and therefore relies on his body.

    He’s not playing competitive chess.

    Your statement reminds me of something Pele once said to the effect that:

    ” In my mind I am still as great a player as ever but my body no longer obeys my mind. A great player has to be able to run and I can’t do that anymore”

    Stu needs his body to be at a certain level for him to perform properly.

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  12. Your reading comprehension isn’t that great, is it? Never once said I wished injury. I was pointing out how Stu, despite being such a great guy in a sport with so many a-holes, has to deal with such horrible injury luck.

    I assume due to your sheer arrogance, snobbery and defense of that piece of garbage dirty player Marquez you’re an El Tri fan, so I’ll give you a pass on the reading comp as that’s to be expected from that lot.

    Marquez chose to play for that “crap team in a crap league” and his points are not valid because he himself has been terrible and the team has clearly been better in his absence.

    But besides that, great post!

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  13. So you think athletes with knee injuries in the US never have these kind of setbacks unlike athletes in a primitve country like the UK?

    I remember when everyone was certain those incompetent French doctors were performing malpractice on Charlie Davies.

    It’s worth remembering that Holden is Bolton’s player. They pay his salary, not the US. And it is in their best interests to have him get the best medical care possible, wherever it is. And in fact Holden did much of his rehab here in the US of A.

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  14. Look at the bright side.

    Holden’s comeback was probably a little premature anyway.

    At least now he can take the time he needs. Serious knee injuries often take two years for complete recovery. And if he comes back as good as he was, even if Bolton is relegated, some team from the EPL will take him. At his salary he would be a real bargain.

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  15. Or they need to ask Dempsey what he does to stay fit there… Do you think a player’s style and position have anything to do with it?

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  16. I was surprised at his “recovery” given the injury he had is somewhat more complex than say an ACL. The fracture or even bruising of the tibia condyle usually includes cartilage damage. He might have re-injured the cartilage defect…I hope this doesn’t mean he had to have microfracure surgery like Convey, that can take years to feel recovered from depending on the location of the defect…good luck Stu, be patient!

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  17. US players need to stop going to that hack league. Notice how Mex players who play mostly on Mex and Spain dont have this problem? The one who seems to keep getting hurt is Chicharito n where does he play?

    so almost two years of injuries JOB part 2 im afraid.

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  18. You’re what? Hoping that other players get hurt? Marquez only said what was on his mind about a crap team in a crap league. His frustrations, although handled poorly, are valid. Maybe he’s paying off the karma of having fans that hope for the injury to other players.

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  19. Cartilage damage does show up on MRIs, but sometimes the extent of the damage can be hidden. For example, you can have a tear that isn’t exposing bone, but is in a spot that continued wear and tear would likely result in a large tear or significant damage. Think of it like a loose thread on a piece of clothing – sometimes you pull it and it’s no big deal; other times you ruin your sweater. Pure speculation, but that’s probably what the docs saw. Either something minor that needed major attention or something small that was in a bad spot and could lead to worse trouble.

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  20. Again, not a doc, but as someone who has seen a fair share of sports related knee surgeries, including ACL and microfracture, I’d say that cartilage damage can be worse than ligament damage depending on location. The six month period for cartilage damage makes me think the damage is significant or in a bad spot. Doesn’t mean he won’t be back to his old self, but ACLs are almost routine these days where as cartilage doesn’t regrow itself; it has to be repaired / replaced. Good luck Stu. We’re all rooting for you.

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  21. Again, he’s missed more time than this in the past. And he’s only 26, so it’s not like he’s Owen Hargreaves. He may well not get back to his previous level, but it’s not like he’s done for. I will choose to remain optimistic.

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  22. I don’t know where he got his surgery done the first time bur I don’t think the great dr Andrews that repair NFL players would have let thus happen… I think biotics budget docs were the cause of this

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  23. I don’t know where he got his surgery done the first time bur I don’t think the great dr Andrews that repair NFL players would have let thus happen… I think biotics budget docs were the cause of this

    Reply

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