Last season it was John Lundstram, this year it is going to be James Sands.
The 22-year old USA international faces stiff competition for a regular place but, if he continues to show the composure that he has shown over his last few appearances, then he will be giving Giovanni van Bronckhorst no choice but to pick him.
Sands has only fleetingly been seen at centre-half after signing in January, however, it would now appear that the Gers gaffer is going to utilise him in a deeper role more often, that he came on to shore up the left-hand side of the defence against Livingston at the expense of John Souttar is a testament to how he has settled into life at Rangers, however, there is no reason why he couldn’t pressure Ryan Jack when we need a less expansive midfield.
He always looked neat and tidy, and there were never really any doubts about his ability to handle the physical aspects of Scottish football but he was just too safe, playing five or ten yard square passes are not enough to hold down a starting slot for a club like Rangers but it looks as though he is getting the message.
It might only be one pass but, this clip seen on Twitter highlights that Sands is capable of a similar range of passing as Connor Goldson, his time in the middle of the park also an indication that he is comfortable on the ball:
James Sands – Playmaker 👀 pic.twitter.com/c16cb1jqRF
— Rangers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (@RangersAssemble) July 30, 2022
If he can produce more moments like this then, even with Ben Davies’s arrival, it is his position to lose. The whole point of having a big squad is being able to drop those that aren’t performing without weakening the team and, so far, it is Sands that has earned the right to partner Goldson in the heart of defence.
Much like Lundstram, it’s beginning to look like too many wrote the American off way too quickly, you’d think we’d have learned by now.