Jurgen Klinsmann didn't hold out much hope for Stuart Holden's injured knee after US national team's Gold Cup final victory on Sunday. Turns out it was for good reason.
Following an MRI on Monday in Chicago, U.S. Soccer announced that Holden had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee following an awkward first half challenge with Panama’s Alberto Quintero. Holden will consult with the US and Bolton medical staffs to determine a treatment plan.
"We are absolutely devastated for Stuart," US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a statement. "He is such a great part of our team on the field and the locker room. He worked tremendously hard to recover from previous injuries and had really come back into form. He was fully prepared to head back to Bolton and challenge for a starting spot. Now he will have our full support as he goes down this road again, and we will be with him every step of the way."
The midfielder made his first national team appearance in more than two years when he came on as a substitute against Belgium at the end of May. Holden followed that up by making four starts and one substitute appearance in the American’s victorious Gold Cup campaign.
Rehab time generally runs at least three months if surgery is not required, while an operation could sideline Holden for six months or more.
"We've got the scans and the results will be analyzed by our specialists," Bolton sports performance director Mark Leather told the club website. "We can then put an action plan in place over the next week to 10 days when the initial swelling reduces."
Holden previously suffered an ACL injury in his left knee when Manchester United’s Jonny Evans caught the Bolton midfielder with his studs in March 2011. After a long comeback, further cartilage damage was revealing, which kept him out until January of this year.
Once again missing their midfield engine, Bolton will open the new Championship season with a derby visit to Burnley on Saturday.
