Rangers utility player James Sands has played just 36 minutes of first team football since the 3-2 win over Aberdeen back in December.
After being substituted before the hour mark in Michael Beale’s second game in charge, the American international has struggled to get a look in.
With Nicolas Raskin having arrived from Standard Liege, Sands’ game time is unlikely to increase in the coming months, and fans on Twitter are now expecting that his loan move from New York City won’t be turned into a permanent one:
The American version of Ross McCrorie. Surprised anyone thought it would work tbh
— FollowFollowGru🇬🇧 (@FollowFollowGru) January 31, 2023
I like Sands as a player, I just don’t think he was given an opportunity to play in his natural position. If he just had a bit more of a physical presence, he’d be a cracking centre half.
— Scott Proctor (@ScottPr84) January 31, 2023
Mad how some of us seen he wasn’t good enough to begin with and got poopooed…
— Lee (@franklee333) January 31, 2023
Better than lundstam and jack in that holding position
— Andrew Turkington (@turkey1874) January 31, 2023
Games v celtic he has been lost in …move him on
— Take back the power (@JDTHEHITCHER) January 31, 2023
Reports suggest it could cost around £4m to £4.5m to keep Sands and, based on his lack of minutes in recent weeks, there is no chance that the Gers will pay that at the end of the season.
The big issue for Sands is that he has never really been given a settled position. Since arriving on loan in January last year, he has played 20 times as a centre-back with the rest of his 19 appearances coming in midfield or as a cameo off the bench. You do have some sympathy with his situation but he simply hasn’t shown enough to justify his sky-high transfer fee.