James Sands arrived at Rangers with such promise under Giovanni van Bronckhorst but eventually saw his loan deal cut shot under Michael Beale.
A fresh-faced Sands, who is now 24, joined Rangers on an 18-month loan deal from MLS outfit NYCFC as the Ibrox side looked to retain the Scottish Premiership title in January 2022.
What proceeded was a painful initial six months – where James Sands formed one part of a disastrous transfer window – and real challenges as an injury crisis decimated Rangers in the American’s second season.
Sands returned to the US in March 2023, only 14 months into the deal, with James since suggesting Rangers couldn’t afford NYCFC’s permanent valuation.
In a recent interview with the Rangers Review, Sands has now revealed which two players stood out the most during his time at Ibrox.
Legendary Rangers duo leave big impression on James Sands
Rangers star James Tavernier knows more than most just how heavy the captain’s armband can weigh at Ibrox.
The Rangers skipper routinely gets it in the neck from supporters and the club’s recent years of failure have done little to aid the captain’s cause.
But James Sands insists that despite all the noise around the now 33-year-old, it’s hard to understand where much of the criticism stems from.
“(James Tavernier) is the obvious one,” Sands said. “From the outside, it’s hard to understand some of the criticism he gets despite years of top-level service to the club.”
It’s not just Tav who impressed a young Sands whilst the versatile defender tried to find his feet at Rangers.
An injury crisis largely forced Sands to be employed at centre-back throughout his 14 months in Glasgow but the American has also been utilised as a deep-lying midfielder in his career.
There is no-one better for a young professional to learn from when it comes to this position than Steven Davis, who also left a big impression on the NYCFC loanee.
“Steven Davis was also outstanding, playing at such a high level for so long,” Sands explains.
“Even when I was at centre-back, I tried to learn from his game. Off the field, he was a top-class professional and a role model.”
James Sands suffers ‘complex’ injury issue in Bundesliga
Ex-Rangers defender James Sands is currently in recovery after suffering a devastating ankle injury whilst out on loan at St Pauli.
Rangers held off Bundesliga competition to sign Sands in January 2022 but the defender completed a move to the newly promoted German club in January 2025.
But that move looks to have been cruelly cut short after Sands suffered a ‘complex’ injury issue which has ruled him out for an indefinite period of time.
”James Sands has undergone surgery to repair a complex ankle injury involving a fractured fibula and torn medial collateral ligament,” read an NYCFC statement back in February.
“Sands sustained the injury shortly before the final whistle of FC St. Pauli’s match against SC Freiburg.
”The midfielder underwent surgery at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany and will be out indefinitely.
“Everyone at the club wishes you all the best in your recovery, Jimmy. NYC is with you.”
