Top Stories

Holden makes Bolton’s FA Cup squad vs. Sunderland

It has been 22 long months on the road of recovery for Stuart Holden, but the finish line is finally in sight.

Holden was named to Bolton Wanderer’s game-day roster for the club’s FA Cup replay against Sunderland on Tuesday, marking the first time he will be in uniform for Bolton’s first team since suffering a knee injury in March 2011. It is unlikely that Holden starts the match, but he could be one of the first options off the bench after being deemed healthy enough to dress by Bolton head coach Dougie Freedman.

Holden recently played in a reserve game for Bolton and was positive after his 65-minute performance, saying his knee felt fine and that his return was looming.

What do you think of Holden being named to Bolton’s game-day roster for their match vs. Sunderland? Think he will come off the bench?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Rah Rah for Stuart! Let’s unharness the shackles, and let him go full out. Either he’s fit or he’s not and there’s only one way to tell.

    Can you just imagine a fit and healthy SH beside say M.Bradley? How much does that improve our distribution/service!
    Go Stuart, it’s such great news to now have a viable hope for your full return.

    Reply
  2. I would rather not see him get back on for the first time with the full side in a cup game, even in a cameo. High risk trying to temper the adrenaline and competitive drive in a tooth and nail elimination game.I don’t like it, I’d rather see a more measured approach.

    Reply
  3. It’s too early. I would have him work up to and then play a full 90 with the reserves for a bunch of games. Just to make sure…..

    Reply
    • Do you really think that know better than the coaches, doctors, trainers, manager, and Stu himself? On what basis are you making the judgement that it’s “too early?”

      Reply
  4. you have to be happy for the guy. twenty years ago he would have had zero chance of ever playing after the two knee injuries he suffered. Go Stu!

    Reply
  5. Please be safe…. Please be safe….

    This is great news, but I hope no one judges any time he gets on the field. Let him settle over the next couple of months. Just last week, the gaffer said he would take his time with Holden and now he’s on a gameday roster. Either this is just a “thank you” to Holden like Davies got after his return in France, or Bolton have seen some big improvements. Either way, he’s deserves nothing but good will.

    Reply
    • C’mon folks…everybody loves to knock Jermaine Jones but he’s easily the USA’s best holding mid, who has been pressed into an attacking mid role for lack of any other creative options. Put Bradley and a healthy Stuart Holden ahead of him with Jones in the hole and Oh My are things different with the Nats.

      Reply
      • This! But we need to wait and see what happens with Holden the next few months and let him get his form and full-match fitness under his belt.

    • Still way too early for that IMO. Let him build up to playing regularly, then let him stay healthy for a spell, then let him get into his best form. THEN we can evaluate. We have no idea at this point if Stu will EVER recover his pre-injury form. It’s great to see him back though. He’s always been one of my favorite players, ever since the 2008 Olympics.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to A Cancel reply