FC St. Pauli in the injury emergency: Who is jumping in for Jackson Irvine?

FC St. Pauli in the injury emergency: Who is jumping in for Jackson Irvine?

On April 20, 2025, FC St. Pauli met Borussia Mönchengladbach in the home game and scored a 1-1 draw. In this game, the team managed to win the first win in the away game against Kieler SV after a gap. Despite the positive performance in Kiel, FC St. Pauli is now facing major challenges because captain Jackson Irvine will be out for the time being.

Jackson Irvine, who has played through all 29 games of the season up to this point, suffered a serious injury in the last game against Kiel. A stress response in the left foot forces him to leave the game against Bayer Leverkusen on April 20, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. The exact duration of his failure remains unclear, but it is speculated that he could pause for several weeks. This is a significant weakening for the team, especially since Irvine is a key player on the defensive.

sporting situation and outlook

At the moment, FC St. Pauli has a lead of seven points to the relegation place and nine points on the direct relegation zone. Nevertheless, head coach Alexander Blessin warns that the team should not sit back, especially with a demanding remaining program that still includes games against top -class opponents such as Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum

In the upcoming encounter, a change in central defensive midfield will be necessary. Replacement candidates such as Carlo Boukhalfa and Connor Metcalfe are available, while Robert Wagner has not yet received a season after several injuries. In particular, the uncertainty regarding irritating injury raises questions about the initial formation for the next games.

Bayer Leverkusen and their track record

Bayer Leverkusen, as the next opponent of FC St. Pauli, is currently in the championship with six points behind Bayern Munich. The guests show an impressive away balance sheet with nine victories and five draws and no defeat abroad, since their last defeat against VfL Bochum in May 2023. This strong performance has made them a serious challenger for St. Pauli am Millerntor, where FC St. Pauli has a successful balance against Leverkusen, especially at home.

In the first leg, the Leverkuseners were able to lead 2-0 at halftime, but FC St. Pauli showed an improved performance in the second round. In addition, St. Pauli has already played six out of fourteen home games in the evening this season and scored a positive balance. The home game also offers the opportunity to collect cup donations for local initiatives such as Viva Con Agua and Kiezhelden, which illustrates the connection of the association with the community.

the absence of Irrvines could be particularly important. According to a study by the insurance broker Howden, the injury rate in the top leagues has increased in recent years, which indicates increasing stress in modern football. Here not only the physical, but also the mental exhaustion of the players is a central topic that is increased either by the close -meshed schedule or by international competitions such as the Champions League.