Former Rangers midfielder James Sands has been ruled out for an indefinite period of time after suffering a devastating ankle injury.
USA international James Sands is currently on loan at Bundesliga club St Pauli and fell awkwardly on his ankle in injury time during the weekend’s 1-0 win over Freiburg.
Speaking after the game, St Pauli manager Alexander Blessin admitted the injury looked ‘really bad’ and now an official prognosis has revealed the versatile ex-Rangers star has undergone surgery.
James Sands undergoes surgery on serious ankle injury
The news comes as a huge blow to James Sands, who spent 14 months on loan at Rangers between 2022 and 2023, after only just moving on loan to Germany from parent club NYCFC.
It was the MLS club who confirmed the true nature of the injury, releasing a statement explaining that the 24-year-old has suffered as ‘complex ankle injury’.
With the USA star both fracturing a bone and tearing a ligament, Sands is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The news will also put into doubt James Sands’ hopes of playing at the FIFA World Cup in 2026, where the USA are hosting alongside Canada and Mexico.
”James Sands has undergone surgery to repair a complex ankle injury involving a fractured fibula and torn medial collateral ligament,” read the NYCFC statement.
“Sands sustained the injury shortly before the final whistle of FC St. Pauli’s match against SC Freiburg.
”The midfielder underwent surgery at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany and will be out indefinitely.
“Everyone at the club wishes you all the best in your recovery, Jimmy. NYC is with you.”
James Sands reflects on Rangers stint
James Sands moved on loan to Rangers in January 2022 and was part of the team that reached that season’s Europa League Final.
But the centre-back-turned-midfielder was also part of the Rangers squad who collapsed in the Scottish Premiership title race.
It was a difficult time for James Sands at Rangers and the midfielder eventually returned to NYCFC in March 2023 before making that loan switch to St Pauli earlier this year.
Sands has since admitted that the experience at Ibrox was a challenging one but explained his time at Rangers ultimately made him a better player.
“Rangers is such a big club in that league that in a lot of the home games, they are quite dominant with the ball,” said Sands.
“They really are able to push the game forward and then on the road, you know, maybe the field is not so good or whatever it might be, it becomes a lot more difficult.
“So learning how to get results in difficult places was one thing. And then the European games were a totally different experience again.
“So just trying to adapt to all the different levels, different types of players.
“It was my first time away from home, first time out of the United States.
”So, to think everything would have gone perfectly is, you know, a little unrealistic. I think it made me a better player and it helped a lot.”
