Stuart Holden Out for 6 Weeks with Broken Leg

Contrary to US Soccer’s press release last night, Bolton Wanderers Football Club are reporting that their American midfielder did indeed have his leg broken by a horrific studs up challenge by Nigel DeJong of the Netherlands. The tackle earned DeJong a yellow but surprisingly the Turkish referee Cüneyt Cakir, who was not more than 10 yards from the play, did not red card the Dutchman. Cakir seemed to be quick with the whistle all night.

“Such offenses are part of football,” DeJong told the Dutch football federation’s official website. “I went for the ball and got the opponent at the end.”

Bolton announced on their website this morning that Holden will be out for up to six weeks with a fractured right fibula. If all goes according to plan, the six week time table will allow Holden to play again for the club before the end of the season. But the US will have yet another player who will be pushing the time table to get match fit for the World Cup this summer.

“We’re erring on the side of six weeks, and if that is the case then he will be capable of playing the last part of the season for us and putting himself in the frame for the World Cup,” said Bolton manager Coyle.

Holden was looking to be a sure thing for this year’s US World Cup roster as his form had been good and Bolton’s manager Owen Coyle had recently been full of praise for the young American midfielder. In fact Sky Sports is reporting that Coyle has said the club has every intention of extending Holden’s contract. According to Coyle there was an option in Holden’s contract to extend his time with the English Premiership side.

“When we signed him, within the contract there was the option there to extend it further, which we will do,” said Coyle. “We’ve already spoken with him and his representative to assure him he will be here for longer because of the belief I have in him, and the quality he has shown since he came to the club.”

Wanderers Manager Owen Coyle went on to speak highly of Holden: “It’s disappointing for Stuart because he has come into the team and done ever so well.”

“He’s a very good player, an international player, and he has shown a real hunger and desire to do well for our football club.”

“In both games against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves everybody saw the quality that he has so it is a blow, but the most important thing is that he returns bigger and better.”