Eager Stu is on Hold
10:10am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By David Pye
Stuart Holden is ready to step into the breach in Mark Davies’ absence, but is prepared to be patient for his chance of a regular spot.
The midfielder replaced Davies against Peterborough on Tuesday to make his first league appearance in almost two years after successive knee ligament injuries.
He could be in line for a first start, after three substitute appearances, at Barnsley today. But the form of the team in extending their unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-0 win in midweek means there is hot competition.
The 27-year-old said: “I know how football goes and I feel fit enough to play.
“But the team is playing well and I have to wait in line just like anyone else because the lads in front of me have been playing really well. I have been patient and now I’d like to push on.
“The only way I am going to get that now is by playing games. I wanted to put myself in the best possible position, so that when I had the chance, I took it.
“But the team is on a good run at the moment and if I can contribute to that, it’s a great place to be.”
That unbeaten Championship run could extend to six matches by avoiding defeat at in-form Barnsley and a win would make it three in a row.
Holden, whose injury lay-off means he is still 13 games short of 50 appearances for Wanderers, believes the team is gaining momentum and confidence with each game as they get used to Freedman’s way of working on the training ground and in matches.
He added: “Three draws and two wins is something to build on.
“Maybe earlier in the year, or last year, those draws would have been losses, the wins maybe draws, and that shows that the tide is turning a bit.
“We’re buying into what the manager is doing here, that team spirit, and you can see that in the dressing room and in training where the lads are working hard every day.
“And the results are starting to come our way now.”
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