USMNT midfielder James Sands has undergone surgery following a severe ankle injury sustained during St Pauli's 1-0 defeat to Freiburg on Saturday. The 24-year-old, who recently joined the Bundesliga side on loan from New York City FC, suffered what has been described as a "complex ankle injury" in injury time.
The incident occurred when Sands fell awkwardly on his right ankle after a challenge in the penalty box. The severity of the injury became immediately apparent as he had to be wheeled through the journalists' mixed zone and transported to a local hospital, unable to walk independently.
St Pauli's head coach Alexander Blessin expressed his concern immediately after the match, stating, "It looks really bad. At first I thought it was knee. But he lost his balance and landed with his full weight on his ankle."
NYCFC confirmed on Sunday that Sands has undergone surgery at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf to repair a complex injury involving a fractured fibula and torn medial collateral ligament. The club shared their support on social media, stating, "Everyone at the club wishes you all the best in your recovery, Jimmy. NYC is with you."
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for Sands, who had been making significant strides at St Pauli since his winter transfer. He had featured in seven matches for the German club, including starts in their last four games, and had been hoping to catch the attention of the national team ahead of next summer's World Cup on home soil.
Before his injury, Sands had expressed his ambitions regarding the World Cup, saying, "Being a part of the World Cup team next year would be an amazing achievement. Whether you get selected or not for the team is really out of your control. The only thing I can control is how I perform on a day-to-day basis with my club. And I think being consistent and putting in strong performances will hopefully get my name back in the mix."
The loss of Sands represents a significant setback for St Pauli. His versatility had proved invaluable, with the American demonstrating his ability to excel both as a defensive midfielder and center-back. His partnership with captain Jackson Irvine had been particularly effective, allowing the Australian more freedom to influence attacks while maintaining defensive stability.
Despite scoring fewer goals than any other Bundesliga team this season, St Pauli has maintained one of the league's best defensive records, second only to Bayern Munich. Sands had played a crucial role in maintaining this defensive solidity while also contributing to the team's improved attacking play. While St Pauli maintains a seven-point cushion above the relegation playoff place, Sands' indefinite absence will undoubtedly make their survival challenge more difficult.
