INJURED star Stuart Holden has revealed how replays of his winning goal against Blackburn Rovers last season are helping him through his current recovery process.

The midfielder is currently in the States undergoing the latest leg of his rehabilitation from knee ligament surgery and is not likely to return to England until the end of March.

It is still unknown whether the US international will be able to play a part in the Whites’ battle against the drop – but Holden is making sure he stands the best chance possible with his hard work in Wilmington, Delaware.

Speaking to the American press this week, the 26-year-old said he is keeping his spirits up by watching his 88th-minute strike on You Tube.

“I’ve watched that Blackburn goal about three million times,” he says. “I think 90 per cent of those views are from me.”

Holden was forced back on to the sidelines after complaining of soreness in his knee following his one and only appearance for Wanderers this season, in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Carling Cup back in October.

Screws that had been inserted into an earlier injury – sustained last March in a tackle with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans – were to be removed with simple surgery. But on examining the problem, doctors found the damage had been far more serious than first thought.

So having spent the better part of a year in the treatment room, it is perhaps no surprise to hear that Holden has endured a few low points on the long road back.

But the ever-positive midfielder insists he can return the same influential player that scooped Wanderers’ player of the year award last season, even if he may have to slightly curb his renowned combative style.

“I’m going to have the best feeling in the world stepping out for Bolton and hearing my name called,” he said.

“People throw out the word ‘injury-prone’. But if you look at my injury list, they all came from tackles. I think I’m unlucky.

“If I change the way I play, I’m not the player I am. I’m a tackler, that’s my game. The one thing I want to be more careful of is not going into completely stupid tackles, just be a bit smarter.”

While Wanderers’ Premier League future remains very much in the balance, Holden is confident his own career can continue in an upward curve on his return.

“I have aspirations of playing at the highest level,” he said. “Eventually playing in the Champions League and, as far as the national team, I want to be one of the main guys for [the 2014 World Cup in] Brazil.

“I’m still 26. You could argue it’s prime age but I’ve had to look at it as time off, years that I haven’t put in my legs. I just wanted to get them all out of the way early so now I can have an injury-free career and play until I’m 36.”