:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10556929/160096685.0.jpg)
In one of the fastest deals I've seen for a while, the American midfielder Stuart Holden has joined fellow Championship club Sheffield Wednesday on a one month loan deal. The move was confirmed by Bolton's Twitter account today,
Stuart Holden has joined Sheffield Wednesday on a loan deal that will run until April 24. #BWFC
— Official BWFC (@OfficialBWFC) March 28, 2013
This loan is what is hopefully the final step in Holden's 2 year recovery process. While Stu has been training with the Wanderers for about 5 months now, the club have been very cautious in deploying him, and he has played only one league match in that time.
The move to Wednesday would indicate that the worry is no longer re-injuring Holden, but with his match sharpness. In the month, he could hopefully get a few starts under his belt to help the struggling Owls and return to Bolton sharper, and ready to help in Bolton's final match and perhaps even the playoffs. The manager confirmed that this is all the move means, with the following tweet,
The manager confirms that the club wish to offer Stuart Holden a contract extension. #BWFC
— Official BWFC (@OfficialBWFC) March 28, 2013
Sheffield Wednesday achieved automatic promotion from League One last season, but have found the step up into the Championship a tough one. They are currently 1 point above the relegation zone and have 9 games to seal safety. If Stu can rediscover his blinding form from before the injury at Hillsborough, he will go a long way to helping them in that task. If his knee can survive what is sure to be a physical relegation battle, it will go a long way to proving that he is ready for football again.
Best of luck to Stu, and please return him in one piece Owls.