St. Pauli confirm season-ending surgery for James Sands | OneFootball

The Saturday injury suffered by St.Pauli midfielder James Sands led to immediate surgery on Sunday. The American’s Bundesliga club confirmed a complex ankle injury, a torn ligament, and a fractured fibula. The nature of such a triple injury spells the end of the NYCFC loanee’s season.

Sands appears unlikely to feature in the German top flight again. The 24-year-old’s career in general may very well be in danger. The latest injury constitutes horrible news for FCSP, who themselves are awaiting the return of several midfielders from injury.

Germany U21 international Robert Wagner (muscle tear) and Australian Connor Metcalfe (adductor issues) will not be fit in time to replace Sands anytime soon. Metcalfe’s fellow Socceroo Jackson Irvine will presumably be paired with Carlo Boukhalfa once again in the forthcoming fixtures.

St. Pauli hope to avoid repeats of the 2001/02 and 2010/11 campaigns, in which they were immediately relegated after just one year in the top flight. At present, Alexander Blessin’s team are ten points above the promotion-relegation playoff place.

A tough month of March with league matches against Wolfsburg, Dortmund, and Bayern nevertheless beckons.

GGFN | Peter Weis