American midfielder Stuart Holden will make his official return from a broken leg on Tuesday, as he has been selected to start for Bolton in their Carling Cup clash against Aston Villa.
Holden has been sidelined for six months since suffering a broken leg on a studs-up challenge from Manchester United defender Johnny Evans. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the Premier League season and the summer's Gold Cup with the U.S. national team.
Holden was voted Bolton team MVP despite the missed playing time after emerging as one of the top midfielders in the English Premier League. Now, with the injury behind him, Holden can work toward building on that success, as well as re-establishing himself as a U.S. national team player.
What do you think of this development?
Share your thoughts below.
Holden and Bradley would be a pair that would put real bite in the US midfield and both of them can get forward and score. Each is just now resuming club play after about 6 months. True, neither is as likely as Torres to pull off some of the nifty passes, but each brings more than a few moments of brilliance to the game, something that is required for the US who simply cannot afford to fail to defend well. Both are better than Edu and right now better than Jones.
That said, I do not expect Klinsmann to call up either of them until at least November.
Really! You contradict yourself then basically make the same unsubstantiated comment about Holden being “our best CM, playing for the Nats or not”. Based on what? What is your arguement that he was the best CM before his inury?
By no means am I a Holden hater. Tired of how US soccer fans who love to anoint someone the “next great thing…” Adu, Johnson, Altidore, Agudelo to name a few. Until Holden proves it on the soccer field, we should hold anointing with title of “our best CM”.
Yeah, Evans isn’t a dirty player. Clusmy sometimes, yes, but don’t lump him in with players like De Jong who are known for being reckless (who seems to have improved in that regard anyway). Just because he accidentially hurt an American doesn’t mean he’s a monster. If Evans had accidentially hurt an English player, I seriously doubt you’d care at all…
Luke, Andy said in the US National team POOL, not TEAM, so that statement wasn’t just on what he did for the Nats, he also meant on club form. And before Holden got injured, he was our best CM, playing for the Nats or not
Yeah, he’s bit different than Torres, but I think both offer more offensive creativity than Edu, although he can show his stuff too and is great attacking on late runs, shooting from distance as the trailing man or on set pieces, if only his goals would count and stop being disallowed….. =(
For sure they both have more on the offensive side of the ball than Bradley, I think Mike just scores, not really a lot of passing and it’s mostly set pieces and as the box to box play lets him get in position, Holden can do that but also score by his own creativity giving him chances & space
This can’t happen fast enough, maybe we can see him start for USA in about 3, 4 games b4 the Nov fixtures
Holden with Edu in the middle would work wonders, & Shea @ wing gives them lots of speed & work rate.
Donovan & Dempsey with Jozy or Juan in the middle of the top line if Jurgen wants to stick with the 4-3-3
I always thought if we stuck with the 4-2-3-1 Holden was the ideal guy to put either next Bradley in the 2 holding mids to link up play with DF & MF or even in between the wings & behind the Striker.
Now I think it’s Edu who starts as the #1 of the 2 D-mids, Torres could play there but if Holden is healthy & in form would LOVE to see him there.
Shea at LMid, Donovan at RMid, with Deuce in the middle & Agudelo or Buddle up top, I could see Jozy but not sure he works best in alone. Could also see Deuce up top & Donovan in middle behind him & between wings like at Gold Cup vs Mexico. That’s if Chandler is at right mid.
Good for Stu!
Since holden’s injury, Bolton has dropped like 8 of the last 10 games. Last season they fell five places from his injury to the end of the season. He has a huge impact.
Although he gets credit for tackles, he is good on the ball, very active in the offense.
I’d take him over Bradley, edu, Torres.
Broken knee cap.
ASSUMING HEALTH AND FORM
if we’re talking 2014, I think we’re more likely to see Torres and Edu in that mix instead of Jones…
Broken leg?? I thought it was a jacked up knee…
Either way, welcome back Stu!!!
Yeah buddy!! Welcome back.
He’s a nice lad and I wish him a full return to form (but hope he’s has an off day against Wolves). It was an AWFUL challenge and it sickens me to see that sort of thing coming from players like Evans, De Jong, Barton, etc.
“Before his injury he was, hands down, the best CM in the US pool”. What do you base this statement on? He’s played just over a year at Bolton did well. He’s been capped 17 times for the senior USMNT team. He was on the 2010 WC squad but only made 1 sub appearence. He wasn’t on the 2009 Conferations Cup team but was on the 2009 Gold Cup team that was basically a B or C squad and did decent. In the few times when he was healthy and playing with the rest of the A team, he usually played out wide. So on what merit does Stu get the title of “hands down, the best CM in the US pool”? Did you forget Michael Bradley? What were you saying about him when he scored a boatload of goals for Heerenveen? Stu is a good prospect, but until he regularly plays with the USMNT A team in meaningful games and performs, I’m not going to give him that title.
His injury from De Jong was not his fault although I’d say one should be extra careful when playing midfield against him. But I think his injury from Johnny Evans was due to his lack of experience. Hopefully he has learned not to put himself in those situations where he will likely get hurt. This happens a lot with younger players. If he learns from his mistakes, there is no reason to assume that the rest of his career will be plagued by injuries.
Pretty sure Hush meant that because of his aggressiveness on the field, Holden will have a hard time staying health and because of that be less likely to play an important game for the US.
Ives et al;
Anyone know if the game will be on TV or online?
true, he slipped pretty seemlessly into the Bolton lineup. it’s quite evident now how much Bolton miss him. they are very disjointed without him in the middle and are having a really hard time linking with the attack. he should surely give them a boost
I like Torres, but I agree. Torres still has time to develop though.
Happens that Donovan, Dempsey, Chandler, Jones, and Holden have never seen the pitch together. Looking forward to that day.
Sorry, but you don’t get to lead the English Premier League in tackles by being a bad, overly aggressive tackler. He tackles well, and cleanly, with a good disciplinary record, despite his exemplary tackle-count.
Before his injury he was, hands down, the best CM in the US pool. After he’s back, people will be asking, “Torres who?”
Is this sarcasm? Holden is one of the best players in our pool and when healthy a quality mid. Is he at fault with his aggressiveness for the ridiculous actions of the thug De Jong or the youthful exuberance of Johnny Evans?
a liability every time he steps on the field? i respectfully disagree with this comment. however, he may never play a critical game for the USMNT due to injuries…
Sadly I believe he will never play a crucial game for the U.S… He is a liability every time he hits the pitch because of his aggresiveness on the field. I do hope he can stay healthy for Bolton at least a full season.
Go stu!
too bad it’s not on foxsoccer.tv
Welcome back Stu! USMNT needs your help in the midfield.
There were some hi-lights of his last reserve league game. One sequence he tracked back to make a nice “all-in” center circle tackle, got right up and made a nice run towards the endline where he received a flick and put a nice ball into the box for a shot on goal that was saved. Granted, it was the reserves, but didn’t look like he was playing timid at all.
Quite amazing how he did 4 seasons in MLS and after a few games in the PL established himself and played as if he had been with Bolton for years. Hope he makes it back to the NT pronto.
I hope he is still the same player as he was pre-injury.