Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Stuart Holden is naturally a bubbly person, but his latest positive comments are likely to be music to U.S. fans’ ears.
Holden started and played 65 minutes for Bolton’s reserves in a 3-0 win over Oldham on Tuesday in what was his longest performance since recovering from the troublesome knee injury that has kept him out of action since March 2011. Holden said after the game that his knee felt fine and it appears as if his return to Bolton’s first team is looming, though the midfielder wants to be smart about how he approaches the final phase of his comeback.
“It was great. I felt good, sharp and fit,” Holden told Bolton’s website. “It was good to put some tackles in, to get on the ball and to be playing in a real game. I now feel that I am getting closer to making my return to the first team.
“It has been a long road but it is one in which I have maintained perspective and I have been taking it at the right pace. It is now important that I don’t get carried away at this late stage.”
Holden received positive feedback from Bolton manager Dougie Freedman after the match and the 27-year-old is now setting his sights on being able to play 90 minutes for the reserve team. Once he’s done that with no problem, then he will be able to dress for the first team and complete his grueling road to recovery.
“If all goes well from this then I don’t anticipate any reaction and I can now take the next step,” said Holden. “That will be playing a bit longer and then I think I will be ready to roll with the full 90 minutes. I am very close now.”
—–
What do you think of Holden’s comments? Expect to be back in Bolton’s first team by the end of the month?
Share your thoughts below.