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]]>Holden had started Bolton's last two matches, impressing manager Owen Coyle, who confirmed the 24-year-old's contract has been extended through to the end of next season.
"It's disappointing for Stuart because he has come into the team and done ever so well," said Coyle.
"What we do know is he will come back bigger and stronger, but it is sad for him to miss out at this moment in time.
"He's come in with a real hunger and desire to do well for our club, and in the two games he's played, we've seen his quality."
Coyle is hopeful the injury will not damage Holden's prospects of playing in the World Cup, with the United States' opening group game against England on June 12.
"Only time will tell," added Coyle.
"We're erring on the side of six weeks, and if that is the case then he will be capable of playing the last part of the season for us and putting himself in the frame for the World Cup."
With regard to Holden's extended deal, Coyle feels he has already proven himself in the short space of time he has been with Bolton.
Coyle added: "We've already spoken with him and his representative to assure him he will be here for longer because of the belief I have in him, and the quality he has shown since he came to the club.
"When we signed him, within the contract there was the option there to extend it further, which we will do.
"It augurs well for his future and that of the football club."
Holden picked up the injury in a late tackle with Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong.
De Jong was booked for the challenge, but he insisted there was no malice intended.
"Such offenses are part of football," he said on www.knvb.nl. "I went for the ball and got the opponent at the end.
"I had no evil intent. If the ball is between me and the opponent, you have to go in full. If you do not then the opponent takes you.
"And if you're scared in a game you get injured yourself."
(Soccer365.com)
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Again it'll feature Flywire technology to deliver a precise fit and support.
"I want to be here," Altidore told the Sunday Mirror. "England is a great place to play football, and the Premier League is the best league in the world. I am sure any footballer given the opportunity to ply their trade in this country would jump at it."
Hull are believed to have the option of making Altidore's move permanent for £6.5 million.
(Soccer365.com)
]]>Zlatan Ibrahimovic halved the deficit within four minutes but Atletico deservedly held on to secure an impressive win and do city rivals Real Madrid a huge favor in the title race.
Real, who beat Xerez 3-0 on Saturday night, are now just two points behind Barca, for whom it was a first league defeat of the season, after 22 rounds.
Meanwhile Sevilla capped a productive week with a 1-0 win against Osasuna which moved them back into the Champions League qualifying spots.
But while it may have been a three-point haul for the Andalusians, it was another wholly unconvincing performance.
Completely outplayed by Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg in midweek - Sevilla still progressed despite a 1-0 defeat - Manolo Jimenez's men were again lacking fluency.
But they grabbed the only goal came after 35 minutes courtesy of the prolific Luis Fabiano.
Fernando Soriano struck an injury-time equalizer to salvage a point for Almeria and heap more frustration on Getafe.
It looked like Getafe were going to bounce back from their Copa disappointment with a three-point haul as goals from Javi Casquero and Roberto Soldado saw them leading 2-1 heading into the final minutes.
However, it was not to be as Soriano's 92nd-minute equalizer saved lowly Almeria and continued their decent run under new coach Juan Manuel Lillo, who has now lost just one game in seven since replacing Hugo Sanchez during the winter break.
Espanyol secured a vital 2-0 win at home to high-flying Deportivo La Coruna to move back up to the respectability of mid-table.
Former Deportivo midfielder Joan Verdu set Mauricio Pochettino's men on their way with the all-important opener six minutes before half-time.
And Jose Callejon sealed a precious win for the Barcelona-based side with the second just short of the hour mark.
By then, the Catalans' task had been made all the more easier by the sending-off of Deportivo midfielder Antonio Tomas for an elbow on Javi Chica.
Malaga cruised to a 3-0 win at Racing Santander thanks to goals from Weligton, Felipe Caicedo and Victor Obinna.
Racing's misery was compounded by the late dismissal of striker Mohamed Tchite, who was shown a straight red for gesturing to the referee he needed glasses.
Real Zaragoza produced a battling performance to claim a valuable point against relegation rivals Real Valladolid.
Jose Aurelio Gay's side had won their previous two matches to climb out of the bottom three at Valladolid's expense, but they would have been content with just a point today after they were forced to fight back from a goal down and having been reduced to 10 men following Andre Herrera's 65th-minute dismissal.
Diego Costa had fired Valladolid ahead after 23 minutes before Humberto Suazo got the visitors on level terms six minutes before the break.
(Soccer365.com)
But Leonardo discarded the notion that former United midfielder Beckham was being saved for his "special match" next week, insisting he had and will continue to pick the team he believes is best suited for each individual game.
"We know it's a very special match for him," said Leonardo.
"It's very special to play in the Champions League against his own team, let's say it like that.
"But we have got to analyze everything and we have a lot of players in good condition. We'll see how everybody is to choose the best team."
On Friday night Amantino Mancini took the role Beckham has occupied since arriving at the Rossoneri in December, but he is ineligible to face the Red Devils having already appeared in the competition for his former club Inter Milan. His position will therefore be up for grabs.
Mancini was replaced by Alexandre Pato on Friday night while Beckham had to wait until late on before taking the place of Ronaldinho, whose place in the team on Tuesday does not appear to be in any doubt after another inspirational performance against Udinese.
But Leonardo's praise of Beckham's adaptability means the former England captain has a good chance of featuring against his former employers.
"I think he can play anywhere," added Leonardo.
"He's smart and intelligent and tactically he's perfect.
"There are no problems choosing a system or a position for him.
"He's been doing very well this year. He arrived in December and he knows the team and how we play.
"I think David has nothing to prove to anybody.
"His career speaks for itself because what he did in football is something very big."
Milan's game against Udinese set a precedent with the Italian Football League agreeing to bring the fixture forward 24 hours to grant the Rossoneri an extra day to prepare for Tuesday's encounter.
However, United's elimination from the FA Cup means they have a free weekend and this could favour them, according to Leonardo.
"Fortunately we have played on Friday so we can rest a bit more, but Manchester played the other day so they have six days, which is two days more than us," he said.
"The more you rest, the better and the more players you get back.
"Manchester also had some players out injured who may benefit from these extra days, but at least we played today and this gives us two days more (than usual), which is an advantage."
Leonardo will be looking to establish an advantage for his side on Tuesday night and not leave them a mountain to climb in the second leg at Old Trafford.
"I think it is in our DNA that we always try to win," he said.
"We always start the game only with the thought of victory."
(Soccer365.com)
]]>Cole fractured a bone in his ankle after a clash with United States striker Landon Donovan in Chelsea's 2-1 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night - and Ancelotti admits the injury is a real blow.
"It's bad news because Ashley is a very important player for us," said Ancelotti. "But we have the opportunity to play Yury Zhirkov, another fantastic left-back, and I have confidence that he will do a very good job.
"He's played very well in the last few games, and has played very well at left-back as well as in midfield. I've said I have a lot of confidence in him.
"He's a very good player. We wanted to buy him in the summer also for this - he could be an alternative to Ashley. Now his moment has come and I think he will be fit to do his best.
"I'm disappointed because Ashley is a very important player for us, but it can happen that a player gets an injury.
"I hope he recovers quickly and comes back before the end of the season. That's a realistic possibility. He will have surgery today and we hope to recuperate him quickly.
"In three months he will be ready to play, so for England he can play in the World Cup."
Cole's place against Cardiff in the FA Cup fifth round will be taken by Zhirkov but the Italian is also resting a number first-team regulars.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka are the most notable absentees along with captain John Terry - handed compassionate leave by Ancelotti.
Terry has flown to Dubai to see wife Toni following lurid allegations about an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former team-mate Wayne Bridge.
"John Terry will not play tomorrow, but will be ready for the next game against Wolves," said Ancelotti. "I think he'll come back stronger from the break. He needed to have some days' recovery.
"I haven't spoken to him. I spoke with him after Everton and told him to rest for a few days. It was my decision to give him time off."
(Soccer365.com)
]]>He is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2011 and it has previously been expected that he would fulfill that deal.
However, reports in both of Madrid's leading sports newspapers AS and Marca claim Major League Soccer outfit Red Bulls are planning to hold talks with Real about an end-of-season swoop for Raul.
The long-serving attacker has previously intimated at an interest in playing in the United States towards the end of his career and will reportedly be offered a two-year contract by Red Bulls.
Raul's representative Gines Carvajal has confirmed clubs have shown an interest in the player, but says a decision will rest with the Spain international.
Carvajal said: "Some clubs have asked about Raul, but that is a question that depends exclusively on the player and he is very happy in Madrid."
Raul has spent his entire career at Real and holds the club's all-time goalscoring record in addition to being the leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and for the national team.
(Soccer365.com)
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