Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden got his first real taste of the broadcasting world when he served as a studio analyst for ESPN during the network's outstanding coverage of the 2014 World Cup.

Still in the States as he rehabs from yet another knee operation, he's venturing back into the broadcasting world, preparing to call his first live match, and doing so in the league in which he made his professional debut: Major League Soccer.

Holden, partnered with NBCSN's lead play-by-play commentator John Strong, will serve as the color commentator for Wednesday night's league match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire (10:30 pm ET, NBCSN).

With Kyle Martino at Fenway for Liverpool/Roma, Stuart Holden will call Fire-Earthquakes on NBCSN Wednesday w/John Strong and Russ Thaler. — Steve Lepore (@stevelepore) July 21, 2014

Holden will become the second active player to feature as an in-game analyst for NBCSN, joining US national team and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made his debut last season over a handful of English Premier League matches, and looks set to continue in an expanding role for the upcoming 2014-15 season.

In case you thought this meant that Holden was already transitioning himself into his post-playing days world of work, he was quick to rubbish any of those ideas.