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English striker finally gearing up for Bundesliga debut after surgery setback following free summer transfer from League One

  • St. Pauli hand Ricky-Jade Jones a chance to fulfill his potential

    Jones burst onto the scene at Peterborough United as a 16-year-old in October 2019. Over six years with the club, he made 203 appearances and scored 42 goals, including a season in the Championship. His standout performances over the past two seasons in League One – where he netted a combined 30 goals across all competitions – caught the eye of Bundesliga side St. Pauli, who signed the 22-year-old on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract.

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    Jones suffered bitter start to St. Pauli career

    His introduction to top-flight football took an unfortunate turn when he sustained a shoulder injury during a pre-season friendly against fourth-tier German side Drochtersen. However, he used the recent two-week international break to work hard on his recovery, during which he took part in team training sessions. "He's a bit ahead of schedule. He's not far off schedule. It looks very, very dynamic. I like that," St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin said at the start of October. 

  • Jones among the fastest players in the world

    Back in 2019, Peterborough head coach Darren Ferguson, the son of Sir Alex Ferguson, stated that Jones "must be the quickest player I've ever managed and I've managed some quick ones. He's a talent, there's no doubt about that."

    Last season, Jones clocked a speed of 37.6 km/h, making him the joint-fastest player in the world along with LA Galaxy's Joseph Paintsil. Back in 2020, his incredible pace caught the attention of Premier League giants such as Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

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    When will Jones make his Bundesliga debut?

    It is unlikely that Jones will be fit for the league clash against Hoffenheim on Sunday, or the encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt on October 25. However, he can be expected to feature in some capacity in the DFB-Pokal second round against Hoffenheim on October 28.