American midfielder Stuart Holden out 6 to 9 months after more surgery on right knee

American midfielder Stuart Holden has undergone another operation to repair ligaments in his right knee and will be sidelined for six to nine months.

Bolton, Holden's club in England's second-tier League Championship, made the announcement Tuesday, eight days after the 28-year-old lasted less than a half-hour with the Bolton under-21 team against Everton. That was his first match since tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament during the United States' 1-0 victory over Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on July 28.

Holden's injury troubles began when he broke his right leg on a tackle by the Netherlands' Nigel de Jong during an exhibition game in March 2010. He returned to make the U.S. World Cup team and appeared as a late substitute in the Americans' opener against England.

He injured his left knee against Manchester United during a tackle by Jonny Evans in March 2011, returned from surgery for a League Cup match against Aston Villa that September, then needed more surgery eight days later.