Burnden Aces

Holden: 'I Won't Give Up'

• March 19, 2014 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/31b1f

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• Stuart Holden
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• See Also

• Six To Nine Month Lay-Off For Holden

Stuart Holden is adamant his career isn't over and has no doubts that he will be back in a Bolton shirt next season.

Holden is currently recovering from surgery on a cruciate ligament injury and is unlikely to play again in 2014, after being ruled out for between six and nine months.

His contract at the Reebok Stadium expires at the end of June, but Holden says he is almost ready to start his rehabilitation and begin the long journey back to first-team football with the Trotters.

"I'm just getting on the mend," Holden told Soccer Morning.

"The first part's pretty slow. I'm on crutches for another week - once I'm off those it starts flying by.

"I'm just ready to get back on the horse. It was obviously a setback, disappointing for me personally and a lot of emotions were flying around, but I'm well and truly feeling like I'm ready to do this thing again.

"It's frustrating when you keep asking yourself, 'why is it big injury after big injury?' (But) I continue to fight, I'm a warrior. That's my mentality.

"I won't give up because I know I have a lot left to give the game. I know my work-ethic, my mentality - that will all get me there again. I'm fully confident in my medical team where I'll be playing again with no problems.

"It's more frustrating than anything. It's easy to harbour those feelings and think 'what if' and 'why did he do that' and be angry and upset and those are all natural. I have definitely felt those in the last few years - particularly when I've suffered setbacks - but I've learned in my life not to dwell on those things. Nothing can change them so why be the angry man curled up in the corner?"

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