Stuart Holden Injury Update

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman has been speaking to the official BWFC website about the long awaited return to these shores of American midfielder Stuart Holden.

As expected, twitter-chat and forums are ablaze with the news, but the manager has made an attempt to cool any talk of a quick return to on-pitch action for Holden.

Following his injury suffered whilst playing for the US National Team in the Gold Cup, and after spending the last few months rehabilitating in America, Holden returned to England at the weekend and was spotted in attendance amongst the Wanderers fans on Sunday against to Wigan Athletic.

Speaking after the game, Freedman said Holden was back for an assessment on his rehabilitation and will return to his homeland in the near future - adding he is 'six to eight weeks' away from stepping up his training regime.

"It's great to have Stuart Holden back in the building with us. It's still a little bit of a different case with Stuart at this moment.

"He brings a great quality to our group when he's in and around the place.

"If we're being honest, he's still got a long way to go. Don't expect to see him out on the pitch in the coming weeks, but knowing Stuart and his mentality, he's working as hard as he possibly can to get back out there.

"The plan is pretty straightforward. Stuart is back over here to spend a few weeks with our medical guys. We'll see where he is, and then he'll head back to the US to continue his rehabilitation.

"The main reason for that is because he's already started his rehab work over there. The weather is also better for him to work in.

"Once he has made significant progress on that front, probably about six to eight weeks, he'll then come back to us to step up the work on the football side of things."

We all hope Stuart can return to the side and regain some of the form displayed before his last injury.

Holden is in the last year of his Bolton Wanderers contract and it remains to be seen whether that will be renewed. Without a firm display of fitness and form it must be considered unlikely.

Thanks for that, Jonny Evans, you bell.