Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden admits he was devastated after undergoing a procedure that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.
The USA international had returned to the Trotters line-up following a serious knee fracture sustained in March but had managed just one match - a Carling Cup win over Aston Villa in September - in his comeback.
Holden suffered a setback in early October before having what he thought was just a clean-out of his knee but it emerged that pins inserted in the initial operation earlier in the year had caused damage and he would had to undergo more serious surgery which could keep him out for another four or five months.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't devastated and in that deep, dark hole for the first couple of weeks because initially I thought I was going in for a routine operation," Holden told the Bolton News.
"I'd worked really hard to get back in that six months and played really well in the Aston Villa game.
"So for that to happen, I just switched my phone off and needed some time to myself."
He added: "Once I'd got over that hump I was back to being me - positive and focused on getting back on the pitch.
"I've done everything I can so far in my rehab, got my head back on straight, and I'm really looking forward to doing the work again.
"I know that once I get back out there all the hard work will be worth it."
