Holden feels he's fitting in well

Holden feels he's fitting in well

Published Mar. 1, 2010 2:10 a.m. ET

The USA international joined the Trotters from Houston Dynamo during the January transfer window, bringing to an end a productive three-year stint in the MLS. The Aberdeen-born midfielder, who moved to the States at the age of 10, failed to make the grade in England during a spell at Sunderland in 2005 and returned to America to make a name for himself. He achieved that target in some style, with Bolton boss Owen Coyle only too happy to bring him back to Britain. The 24-year-old was handed a Premier League debut against Wolves on Saturday, pitching him head-to-head with Mick McCarthy - the former Black Cats boss who threatened to wreck his dreams as a promising teenager. Holden put in an awesome display against McCarthy's current charges at the Reebok Stadium, helping Bolton to a welcome 1-0 win which lifted them out of the relegation zone. He insists he was not looking to prove a point to his ex-boss, though, and claims he is just happy to be back in England. "I was there (Sunderland) for six months on a short-term contract," said Holden. "I then went back to Houston and established myself. "When Owen Coyle asked me over to Bolton, and with the club being just 10 minutes from family, it seemed like the perfect fit." Holden is hoping an impressive end to the 2009/10 campaign will allow him to fulfil his World Cup dream, with the Scot desperate to help his adopted country see off England in South Africa. "I would love to play against England in the World Cup finals and beat them," he added. "Representing the USA in the World Cup would be something special."

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