WHETHER to plunge American star Stuart Holden into action against Chelsea is a million dollar question at the Reebok right now.

Given a tantalising glimpse of his presence in the Carling Cup victory against Aston Villa eight days ago, many Wanderers fans are now eagerly pinning their hopes on the midfielder to inspire something out of a side that have looked a shadow of their former selves in his absence.

Just two league victories have been earned since Holden left Old Trafford in March on a stretcher to begin another long period of rehabilitation, the shining example being the FA Cup semi-final against Stoke - a hammer blow from which it would seem the team has yet to recover.

To have achieved such a performance on his return at Villa Park has arguably cranked up the pressure even higher on the Texan, and while Coyle insists repeatedly that he will nost rush his prized asset back into the hurly burly of the Premier League before he is completely ready, the temptation must be building with every disappointing result.

Coyle didn’t exactly extinguish the flames of anticipation when he announced before the Arsenal game that having Holden back in the fold would be “like going into the transfer market and signing a £10 million player.”

Yet after watching his energetic yet ultimately toothless midfield in battle at the Emirates, he might feel he has undercooked his valuation.

Holden might have been used in a more defensive role against Villa on his comeback, but his skillset at the other end of the pitch is missed just as badly.

While Darren Pratley, Nigel Reo Coker and Fabrice Muamba all work as diligently as the US international, none are able to match his eye for a pass, nor, as yet, his eye for goal.

But are we expecting too much from the man who swept the board at last year’s player of the year awards?

Holden was among the Premier League’s top midfield performers in his 27 appearances last season but, like Wanderers, his best form came pre-Christmas.

A thigh problem had caused him to dip in and out of the side during November, December and January - which means Whites fans have only really seen the former Houston Dynamo man at his free-flowing best for four or five months in total at best.

A broken leg sustained on international duty had truncated the previous season to just three appearances, undoubtedly making the impact he made in his first full campaign all the more impressive. But it also serves as a warning to Coyle and his medical staff of the need to be completely convinced of his physical condition, lest risk another spell on the sidelines.

Add to that the fact that Holden will be plunged into a side struggling for confidence and results, and it may well make sense to leave his return until after Chelsea’s visit to give him the full international break to get completely up to speed.

Holden was focred out of first team training on Thursday and Friday because of the after-effects of his exertions at Villa Park - and left completely out of the squad for the game at Arsenal on Saturday.

It was a reminder that despite his superhuman powers of positivity and courage to come back fighting, his body is still a way off coping with two games in a week.

A few days on from a fifth successive defeat and the scene remains set for Holden to make his grand entrance.