Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper, has sympathised with his USA team-mate and captain, Carlos Bocanegra, who he says signed on at Rangers for winners' medals and Champions League football, but ended his first season empty handed and with the club in disarray.
"I spoke with Carlos on a weekly basis when all that was going on and it wasn't easy for him," said Howard.
"It was hard because I'm sure he made the move with Champions League, titles, medals in mind, so to be hit with all that going on, I'm sure was disappointing."
Howard added that both Bocanegra, right, and Maurice Edu, inset, the other Rangers player in the USA squad preparing for a friendly against Scotland tonight, have remained focused despite the disruption at Ibrox.
"Those two are professionals," added Howard. "Carlos is a leader and our captain and you expect that from him. Mo is a guy who is not easily rattled."
Howard admitted that Everton had benefited from Rangers problems with the cut-price January acquisition of Nikica Jelavic from Ibrox.
He said: "It was a steal at the price we got him, for his goal return."
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