James Sands suffers season-ending ankle injury at St. Pauli

USMNT midfielder James Sands faces a potentially lengthy recovery after suffering a severe ankle injury during St. Pauli's 1-0 loss to Freiburg. The injury, described as a complex ankle injury with a torn medial ligament and a fractured fibula, occurred in stoppage time as Sands attempted to make a play in the attacking area. Following surgery at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Sands will be sidelined for an indefinite period, raising concerns about his future with the club and his national team prospects. St. Pauli's coach Alexander Blessin expressed deep disappointment, highlighting Sands' importance to the team amid a growing injury crisis. This setback complicates St. Pauli's fight to avoid relegation, as they currently sit 14th in the Bundesliga table with 21 points from 22 games. The team's injury woes continue, with multiple key players also sidelined.