AMSTERDAM – Any statesiders worried that Bolton loaning out Stuart Holden means that the club have given up on the recovering US international can rest easy.
In fact, this one-month stint with Championship survivalists Sheffield Wednesday means quite the opposite. In addition to being eager to get Holden back to his best, Wanderers have already begun the process of extending the midfielder's contract past this summer's expiration date.
Bolton send Stuart Holden on month-long loan to Sheffield Wednesday
"I informed him that we want him with us next season and have offered him a contract extension," Bolton boss Dougie Freedman told reporters on Thursday night. "This is an opportunity for Stuart to go out and get games. This is the next step in his rehabilitation process, and he'll come back to us match fit."
Holden has made just three appearances for the Reebok crew since returning in February from the second of two knee surgeries. The 27-year-old has watched their past four matches from the sub's bench.
Starting with Saturday's visit from Barnsley, Holden will now get the chance to work as many as seven league games for the relegation fighters. Owls manager Dave Jones has the American until April 24 and sounds like he intends to put him to use.
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"He's quality on the ball, he's got an eye for a goal and if he hadn't had the injuries he's had, then we wouldn't have been able to get him," Jones told BBC Radio Sheffield.
Holden joins a Wednesday midfield that could definitely use his services. Among his temporary stable mates is Jamaica veteran Jermaine Johnson, third among Owls midfielders in minutes played.
