Arfield: Canada won’t take the minnows lightly

RANGERS ace Scott Arfield insists Canada have no right to be complacent as he prepares to cross swords with one of the worst football nations in the world.

The 29-year-old will go from the cauldron of Celtic Park to the 500-capacity campus pitch of the IMG Academy in Miami on Sunday when the Canucks face the U.S. Virgin Islands in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying.

The minnows, who are ranked 199 out of 205 countries by FIFA, boast a population of just 103,000 – smaller than Dundee – and do not have the facilities to host the fixture so it has been switched to Florida.

Nevertheless Arfield will take nothing for granted when he wins his 13th cap in unique circumstances.

“I don’t think we’re in a position to be complacent,” said Arfield. “I don’t think we are regarded as a highranked nation so I don’t think we should go in with that attitude whatsoever.

“I think if you take anybody lightly in this game, in football, then you’re going to be a loser straight away.

“We’re looking at this game being as important as one of the top nations in the CONCACAF region like Mexico.”

Meanwhile, Arfield is adamant he is reporting for international duty in high spirits despite Rangers’ 1-0 defeat against Celtic last weekend, insisting the club remain on the right track under boss Steven Gerrard.

“I think there’s a lot of good times coming,” he added. “Steven Gerrard has been everything that you’re hoping for in a manager in terms of being so welcoming.”