[AMERICANS ABROAD] U.S. U-20 international Will Packwood suffered a horrendous double break of his leg -- broken fibula and tibia -- in Birmingham City's 1-1 tie Saturday with Leeds United that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Packwood suffered the double break after landing following an innocent-looking collision with Leeds' Argentine star, Luciano Becchio.

"It's a nightmare for us," said Birmingham manager Lee Clark. "Will has been great for me and we all wish him well."

Leeds-Birmingham highlights (Packwood injury @1:30)


Packwood's teammates looked on in horror as medics attended to Packwood.

"It took the gloss off a fantastic performance," said Clark. "Will's young teammates and friends are distraught, they were in tears out there."

Packwood, 19, was born in Massachusetts to an English father and an American mother and joined the Birmingham youth academy when he was 14. He was expected to be a key player for the U.S. under-20 national team that will attempt to qualify next month for the 2013 Under-20 World Cup.

"We should be celebrating a fantastic performance by my young players," added Clark, "but this is a real downer. I heard the snap and was hoping it was a shin pad. It was an innocuous one with two players going for the ball."

For those asking, it appears I have a double tib+fib fracture. Broken in as many as four places. Long road to recover...but not impossible!

— William Packwood (@WPackwood) January 6, 2013