Stuart Holden: Bolton Wanderers confirm serious knee injury

Bolton's Stuart Holden has suffered another serious knee injury after scans revealed he tore a cruciate ligament in the United States' Gold Cup final win.

Holden, 27, was forced off in Sunday's 1-0 victory against Panama, having been affected by knee problems for more than two years.

Medical tests on Monday then showed the damage to the midfielder's right knee.

"I will rise again! Big love and thanks to all," Holden, who recently agreed a new contract with Bolton, tweeted.

Speaking immediately after the match at Chicago's Soldier Field, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann expressed his fears after Holden had to be substituted in the first half.

"We are very concerned about Stuart's situation," he told ussoccer.com.

"It looks like a very serious injury, but I'm not a doctor and I can't confirm it.

"He'll have all the tests done. Stu is a player that when something happens, he knows when something happens. Hopefully it's not as bad, but it's not looking good right now."

Holden's knee injury woes began in March 2011 when he was hurt in a Premier League match against Manchester United.

After a six-month absence, he returned to action in a League Cup tie at Aston Villa, but then required further surgery that would keep him sidelined for another 16 months.

Holden made his comeback in January, and a further four during a loan spell at Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

He is the third Bolton player to suffer a damaged cruciate ligament in 2013, following and full-back Joe Riley.

Meanwhile, defender Zat Knight has been named as the club's new captain following the summer exit of long-serving striker Kevin Davies.

Wanderers begin the 2013-14 season at Burnley on Saturday.