Yankee-doodle Holden ready to put one over on Beckham

DAVID BECKHAM may have been aware of Stuart Holden’s potential when the British-born USA international midfielder slipped under the transfer deadline radar and joined Bolton in January but his performance in a vital victory over Wolves suggests English football may be hearing much more from him before this year is completed.

In the short-term, Holden gained a large measure of vindication at the expense of Mick McCarthy and Sunderland, the manager and club who released him after an earlier, short-term, spell in the English game. Beyond this season, Holden is already hoping his efforts to keep Bolton in the top flight help cement his place in the US World Cup team and allows him a reunion with Beckham in group play in June.

Holden has already bettered Beckham once this season, winning man-of-the-match honours as his Houston Dynamo team lost to the LA Galaxy in the MLS play-offs but, on the far more important stage of a Premier League debut on Saturday, he once more excelled.

“I was there for six months five or six years ago,” said Holden, 24, of his first spell in English football. “I was on a short-term contract and, though I was looking to extend it, unfortunately I picked up a few injuries when I was there.

“I was never really fit enough to make an impact. It fell at an unfortunate time for me. We both felt it was best I went in a different direction so I went back to Houston and established myself. I feel like I’ve grown as a player now.

“I didn’t catch up with Mick but there’s no hard feelings. It didn’t work out but I’m grateful for the chance and was part of the club at a time they won promotion.”

Holden was raised a Manchester United supporter by his late father, who hailed from near Bolton and grew up a Red Devils fan in the Best-Law-Charlton glory years.

“I grew up a Man United fan and obviously Beckham was someone whose work rate and delivery I really admired,” said Holden. “I’d love to play against England in the World Cup – and beat them. Being part of that squad is a big aim for me.”

Holden’s performance on his league debut has already gone some way towards repaying the faith shown in him by Owen Coyle at the turn of the year even if the Bolton manager was attempting to sign him for his former club, Burnley, at the time.

“Believe it or not I’ve watched a lot of football in America and he’d always caught my eye,” said Coyle. “I arranged for him to come to Burnley and he arrived on the Sunday, but I agreed to take this job on the Tuesday.

“He had offers from lots of clubs in Scotland and the Championship but he’s keen to prove himself at Bolton, prove himself in the Premier League and go to the World Cup. It’s an incentive-based contract for him and if he continues like he’s started we will be delighted.”

Bolton’s goal came courtesy of poor Wolves defending as Chung-Yong Lee was allowed to keep an errant corner in play and crossed for Zat Knight to claim his first goal for the club, a neat finish from six yards. Wolves’ misfortune was cruelly illustrated in the second half when David Jones and Kevin Foley both hit the post and then saw their shots roll along the goalline to safety.

“We have got Manchester United next week then Burnley, Portsmouth, Sunderland, and other teams around us. We are still in there,” said McCarthy of a situation that is looking increasingly dire with Wolves winners of just one of their last nine league games. “I am saying we are in there scrapping and I will take that with the group of players I have got.”

MATCH RATING: *** – A game that did not promise much, and which only produced one goal, was surprisingly entertaining given what was at stake.

REFEREE: Andre Marriner (Birmingham) 5 – At least he was consistent, but Marriner deprived both teams of blatant penalties and his general man-management was poor.