Rangers duo in agonising wait for World Cup spot, chances assessed
Rangers have seen something of an American invasion over the past 12 months or so and there could be a place at the World Cup for them.
James Sands arrived on an 18-month loan from New York City in January and has forced his way into the Light Blues side in defence having also played in central midfield both at Ibrox and across the pond.
Malik Tillman joined the former MLS star in Glasgow this summer on loan from Bayern Munich and has begun life in Scotland like a house on fire and former United States international Janusz Michallik thinks they both could be on the plane to Qatar.
“James was out of the picture for a while, but because of his versatility he now maybe has a shot,” Michallik said, as quoted by Football Scotland. “He’s normally a defensive mid, but he’s shown he can play centre-back for Rangers and we also know he can play right-back.
“I’ve watched Malik in some of the big games and he may have a chance. He’s got great pedigree coming out of the Bayern Munich system. And he’s getting massive exposure being in the Champions League against Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax.
“He’s getting a chance to show that he can do it on the big stage. But he’s not been around the America squad that much. He came on against Morocco for his debut and got just one more cap after that.”
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From an entirely selfish point of view, Giovanni van Bronckhorst should be hoping that neither player is called up to the World Cup so they can enjoy a good rest and some tactical training back at Auchenhowie instead.
This rather odd season has to be treated in two sections and Rangers will have a much better chance of winning the Premiership title back off Celtic if they have as many players as possible not at the World Cup.
Of course, Sands and Tillman, as well as others in the Gers squad, will want nothing more than to spend a month in Qatar while representing their country in the biggest football competition on the planet.
But they need to find another level of performance in big games while at Rangers because back-to-back 4-0 defeats against Celtic and Ajax is not going to get the manager, who was in attendance for the Old Firm derby, making good notes.
In other Rangers news, Scot Gemmill has been mightily impressed by one Scottish youngster at Ibrox.