SANDS SETS OUT IBROX TWIN GOALS
FOR James Sands, the desire to start more games for Rangers under Giovanni van Bronckhorst is twin-pronged in nature.
Keen to make his loan move to Ibrox a permanent arrangement, a conversation with United States coach Gregg Berhalter has also left the utility man in no doubt over what it might take to force his way into the American squad for the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Joining Van Bronckhorst’s side from New York City on an initial 18-month deal in January, Sands made 14 appearances in all competitions as a midfielder, right-back and central defender.
For some players, versatility is a curse. For Sands, it might be the key to forcing his way onto a flight to the Middle East at the end of the year. Only, however, if he plays more often.
‘Part of my draw for the national team is being able to play both positions (defence and midfield),’ he admitted, ‘especially with a 26-man roster.
‘I think they will be looking for versatile players but, when I spoke to the manager for the US most recently, he just said I have to be playing more than I was in the spring to be considered for the team. I think that’s an achievable goal, so I’ve just got my mind set on that.’
International football is not the only incentive, of course. Keen to firm up his loan agreement and sign a permanent deal, he confessed: ‘I would love it. It’s a big club and anybody would be lucky to play here.
‘There’s always a little bit that’s out of your hands. I have to be performing and playing well to earn that opportunity but it’s not in my control. I’m just going to focus on playing and doing my best.’
A central midfielder by choice, 22-year-old Sands found it difficult to shift the likes of Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo, John Lundstram and Steven Davis from the engine room as Rangers stormed to the Europa League final, albeit he appeared as an extra-time substitute in Seville.
Aribo has since moved to Southampton. Yet the addition of fellow American international Malik Tillman on loan from Bayern Munich makes the task of securing a regular starting place no easier.
‘I’d never actually met Malik before he got here,’ said Sands. ‘I think he’s just switched recently to play for the US but I have friends who were in camp with him recently and they all said he’s a good player and a very good person. I’m excited to have another American around. I think both of us have ambitions to be in the World Cup team, so the only way we’re going to get there is by getting games here. I think having someone next to you who shares similar goals is really helpful.
‘Rangers sign only the best players so, for this club to have two Americans, it says a lot about the growth of the sport in the US and, hopefully, there’ll be more in the future as well.
‘I think any time you’re at a club like this, there’s going to be competition. You look throughout the squad now and each position is two or three players deep, so I think it’ll really help the squad in the long run.
‘Personally, I enjoy a bit of competition. I’m always going to back myself, so I’m just looking forward to the start of the season.’
Before the World Cup finals comes a significant challenge on the club front. After facing Livingston in the opening weekend of the Premiership campaign on Saturday, Rangers fly to Belgium for the first leg of a potentially tricky Champions League third qualifying round first-leg tie against Union Saint-Gilloise.
The prospect of playing in Europe’s premier club competition and the World Cup finals before Christmas offers a huge incentive to convince Van Bronckhorst he merits more game time.
He said: ‘It’s an honour for me and it’s why I put in all this work as a player. Each day, I go out and try my best to be at competitions and tournaments like that. Nothing is set yet, but, hopefully, I get to take part in both of those competitions.’
In the short term, he owns up to more basic, modest, personal targets.
‘I think it’s just to get on the field more consistently. As I said, it’s a really talented group but I think I’m more than capable of having a bigger impact,’ he said.
‘I can use the experiences that I had in my first six months, like playing in the Europa League and some of the big league games, to help me develop and get better for the rest of the season.
‘A big reason why I came here was being able to deal with the atmosphere and environment you get with the home games and a lot of the European games. I think that’s what separates the top players and just the average ones. Learning to be in big environments has been a big plus for me.’
Champions League qualifiers have provided a treacherous start to the season for Celtic and Rangers in recent campaigns. Last year, the Ibrox club crashed out to Swedish side Malmo and, with a minimum of £30million up for grabs, preparations have been geared towards avoiding a repeat.
Asked if Rangers are ready for the challenges ahead, Sands added: ‘I would say definitely. We’re really looking forward to the new season and winning the league and making up for last year.
‘You’ve obviously lost extremely talented guys like Calvin (Bassey) and Joe (Aribo) but the players they’ve brought in are just as strong in different sorts of ways. It’s hard to say, but this team is definitely ready to compete on all fronts.’
Meanwhile, new Rangers coach Ceri Bowley has bid farewell to the City Football Group as he prepares to join the Ibrox backroom staff.
He wrote on social media: ‘It has been a privilege to work for a prestigious organisation who are among the leaders in multi-club ownership. Twelve countries and five continents.’