James Sands could return as Giovanni van Bronckhorst fights for Rangers job – Predicted team news v Napoli
We’re delighted to welcome Tam McManus as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
James Sands could return to the Rangers starting line-up for their clash against Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night, according to Tam McManus.
Sands, 22, hasn’t started a Champions League game since the 3-0 defeat at home against Napoli on 14 September with the USA international getting himself sent off in that game.
He was an unused substitute for the 7-1 defeat against Liverpool at Ibrox last time out in Europe and hasn’t started in the Scottish Premiership since the 4-0 loss to Celtic on 3 September.
Leon King and Ben Davies started in the two centre-back positions against Livingston on Saturday with Sands coming off the bench at half-time.
According to McManus, the American is in line for a start in the defence but the ex-striker doesn’t believe the 22-year-old is cut out to play at centre-back.
“He does like James Sands but he likes him at centre-back he’s not a centre-half,” McManus told Ibrox News.
“I don’t know what Rangers might do against Napoli.
“Do they go and park the bus and try to keep it respectable? Because I think if they open up, Napoli will give them a doing.
“Napoli are one of the most in-form teams in Europe at the minute, it’s not a place you want to be going when you’re struggling and are low on confidence.
“If you look at their form on the road so far, Liverpool was 2-0 but it could have been five or six and then Ajax won 4-0.
“If Rangers can keep the score down and keep it respectable then maybe Giovanni van Bronckhorst gets to live and fight another day.
“But if they go there and get a hammering, the shouts for him to go will be a lot louder.”
Van Bronckhorst is facing increased pressure at Ibrox.
Fans have booed the team off in recent games against Liverpool, Dundee and Livingston.
In other Rangers news, this Gers star was involved in a “naughty” incident that had a BT Sport pundit talking live on air.