OWEN Coyle accepts he may have to do without Stuart Holden until October.
The highly-rated US international has stepped up his recovery from a serious knee injury back home in Houston and has set a personal target of mid-September to make his first team return.
But Coyle is reluctant to set any strict deadlines for the 25-year-old, who missed the last two months of last season after being stretchered off against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and believes he may have to do without his midfield ace for the first six games of the campaign.
Wanderers have a daunting start to the Premier League season, facing Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in August and September.
And while Holden hopes to be back in Coyle's plans by the time the Whites host Chelsea at the start of October, the manager is wary of cranking up the pressure.
“Stuart's like a kindred spirit, so positive in his outlook and in everything he does,” he toldThe Bolton News. “I love that about him.
“He's optimistic and he is improving no doubt about it but we have to make sure we pick the right moment to bring him back and not push him at all.
“Stu has targeted the middle of September. My medical lads are a wee bit more wary because they think if he doesn't come back then I'll go off my head, and they're right because I want my players back as soon as possible.
“If we get him back at that point I'd be absolutely thrilled, and the same goes for Sam Ricketts as well, but we might just have to be a bit patient.”
Holden's campaign was ended in March after a horrific clash with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans.
He required more than 20 stitches in a thigh wound, but serious damage was also done to the knee joint itself, and the consequent surgery saw the player on crutches for the next six weeks.
Now back running in the gym – albeit on a high-tech “bubble” machine which enables him to train at 65 per cent his bodyweight - the current Wanderers player of the year looks to be making steps in the right direction.
And that will come as sweet music to the ears of Coyle, who saw his side win just two of nine games after the American was consigned to the sidelines.
“Let's not get away from it, we've all seen the effect not having him in the team had on us last season,” the manager said. “Sometimes you find that with players, and I've said this about Kevin Davies as well, but when they play all the time you start to take them for granted.
“You just don't realise just how much they bring to your team until they are not there.”
