New York City FC suffered another blow on Wednesday, as the club announced that midfielder James Sands is out for the remainder of the 2020 season after suffering a fracture in his right foot.
The 20-year-old has been a stalwart for Ronny Deila, starting 16 of 17 games this season. He is expected to finish high in this year's 22 Under 22 rankings set to be unveiled next week, with Matt Doyle putting him at No. 4 on his list.
Mostly playing as a defensive midfielder in 2020, the Homegrown is also capable of filling in at center back. His absence could push Alex Ring back to central midfield after playing on the wing recently. The injury could also lead to more playing time for Uruguayan youth international Nicolas Acevedo, who has played just 91 minutes since joining the club prior to the MLS is Back Tournament.
Sands joins Heber on the shelf, with both starters now set to miss the rest of the season. Deila also said on Tuesday that Gedion Zelalem and Tayvon Gray are also out for the remainder of the season, but neither were expected to get much playing time. One bit of good news on the injury front for the Cityzens is that playmaker Maxi Moralez is set to return this weekend.
