Italian football club AC Milan had enough problems losing their game against Atalanta 2-1 on Friday December 6th without one of their star players, and U.S. Men's National Team captain, Christian Pulisic also picking up an injury.

Pulisic came off in the 38th minute of the game with what appeared to be a calf injury and was replaced by English teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek. An MRI on Monday confirmed it was an injury to his right calf muscle, and the club has stated he will be out for at least two weeks. The winger will receive another scan next week to further investigate the injury, with the possibility that his absence may extend into the new year.

On Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, guest Stu Holden discussed his own issues with injuries in the past and encouraged Pulisic to advocate for himself in fully healing before returning to the game.

"What I would like for him," former U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard said, "is to start having conversations in those rooms and going 'nope, not playing today. Can't - you know why? You need me."

Holden went on to explain that the first time he tore his ACL, it was the Gold Cup final of 2013. He did five months of rehabilitation here in the U.S. before returning to his club at the time, Bolton, in the U.K. The club tested his fitness and decided he was ready to appear in a reserve game.

"In my head I was like that's not even six months since I tore my ACL," Holden explained. "I was feeling the pressure of the World Cup was three months away. My coach was like we need you back in, we're pushing to get promoted back to the Premier League."

In the end, Holden gave in to the pressure and played the game. But in the 22nd minute, his ACL went again and Holden refers to that now as "the beginning of the end."