Stuart Holden Injury Rules Bolton Wanderers Midfielder Out For 6 Months

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans insists his tackle that injured Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden was no malicious. Evans went in on a dangerous challenge last weekend in the Red Devils' match with Bolton and Evans was given a red card for the tackle. Holden needed 26 stitches to close the gash on his knee and further scans revealed that he would be out for at least six months following the surgery needed to repair the damage.

Evans told BBC Sport that "at the time I did think I'd gone in for a fair challenge and I'd won the ball, but looking back on it when I went straight off the pitch and into the changing rooms and saw the tackle again, I realised it wasn't a good tackle from myself - and my concerns were immediately with Stuart."

When word came out about the severity of Holden's injury, Evans called Holden and apologized for the tackle. Afterward on his Twitter, Holden said that Evans had called him and issued a "sincere apology."

"It was disappointing to hear the news, [so] I just rang him straight away to apologize," Evans also BBC Sport. "I think anyone appreciates a phone call if someone's caused them an injury. Not many footballers like to be on the treatment table, it's just unfortunate that someone else has caused an injury to you."

Holden has been a fixture in the center midfield for Owen Coyle's Bolton side and one of club's best players this season. Now, he will certainly be out for the remainder of the season and will not be able to play for the United States in this summer's Gold Cup.

Apparently Stuart Holden's injury isn't just going to affect Bolton Wanderers, but the Houston Dynamo and a charity as well. According to Dustyn Richardson the Dynamo had been in discussions with Bolton to play a friendly for charity this summer when Bolton was in the United States as part of their preseason training. Now that Holden has suffered a gruesome knee injury that required 26 stitches, surgery and will keep him out six months though the Dynamo have backed out of negotiations to bring the English club to Houston for the friendly though.

Holden is a Texas native who spent four seasons with the Dynamo where he was a part of two MLS Cup winning sides. Following the departure of Dwayne De Rosario to Toronto FC, Holden became a focal point in the Dynamo attack and his reputation grew along with his strong play. His success with the Dynamo resulted in him being called into the United States team and he garnered interest abroad, eventually leading to his signing with Bolton.

Since joining Bolton, Holden has suffered two serious injuries. A broken leg delayed his start with the club and his current knee injury puts a halt to a good run of form that has made him one of Bolton's best players this season. Not only will his injury put an end to his season with Bolton, it appears to have put a halt to a possible friendly. While the charity that the match would benefit is unknown, it is possible that it would have been Holden's Heroes, a charity that Holden runs and has remained active in the Houston area even after he left to play with Bolton.