United States defensive midfielder James Sands faces a lengthy layoff with a serious right ankle injury and broken calf bone sustained while playing for St. Pauli.

Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Freiburg ended in an extremely bitter fashion for promoted side St. Pauli. A late own-goal from former Freiburg man Philipp Treu in the 88th minute cost FCSP a

New York City FC and United States Men's National Team midfielder James Sands underwent surgery to repair a significant injury to his right ankle and will be out indefinitely.

United States defensive midfielder James Sands is hoping a mid-season switch to Bundesliga side St. Pauli can help him earn a ticket to the World Cup next year.

It looks really bad,” St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin said after the game. “At first I thought, the knee. But it doesn’t look good for the ankle.” Sands had made his fifth consecutive start for St.

Sands fell awkwardly on his right ankle after a challenge in the penalty box in injury time in the 1-0 Bundesliga defeat to Freiburg on Saturday. He was taken from the field and later had to be wheeled through the journalists’ mixed zone seemingly unable to walk under his own power before being taken from the stadium to a local hospital.

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