IN a city of bright lights, star names and huge wages, James Sands could have felt daunted as he dared to dream of his break in the Big Apple.
Instead, the New Yorker was inspired by the stage and the surroundings as he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa and went head-to-head with the main attractions in Major League Soccer.
Sands couldn't have wished for a better grounding in the game. He would learn from some of the best but it is his own talent and determination that have allowed him to emerge as a name in his own right.
His move Rangers on an 18-month loan deal now gives Sands the chance to showcase his talents to a new audience and take the next step in a burgeoning career after success for club and country Stateside.
And USA national manager Gregg Berhalter has backed the 21-year-old to continue forging his own path in the game after leaving his home city and team to chase further success in Scotland.
"James, at a young age, has had experiences of being around some really top quality players and that certainly helps him," Berhalter said.
"Being around David Villa every single day, being coached by Patrick Viera, is helpful and seeing Pirlo and all these top players up close, seeing their training habits and what they bring each and every day is important for a player’s development.
"I think the most important thing was that James was able to get on the field and play. When you think about all the minutes he has played last year and this year, he has certainly built a strong resume at such a young age.
"I think this is a very good signing for Rangers. I know there was a lot of competition and James is a player that is going to be 100 per cent on and off the field. He is going to help the team."
Sands had plenty of figures to take inspiration from as he rose through the ranks to become the first homegrown player in the history of New York City and his final act was to help Ronny Deila's side clinch the MLS Cup last month.
Now he is following in the footsteps of several compatriots - including the likes of Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya - at Ibrox after becoming Giovanni van Bronckhorst's first signing of the January transfer window this week.
Berhalter said: "Rangers has a great history of Americans, with Claudio Reyna starting it off and really performing at a high level when Rangers were at the peak of their competition.
"Then when I think about Maurice Edu and other Americans that have played there, it is certainly a welcoming place for Americans. I know James is doing to fit in there and do really well also.
"I think Giovanni is a good coach, a smart coach, and he certainly sees James as a valuable player. I am sure he reached out to Claudio for a reference.
"It is a lot to do with James’ qualities. He is a very good player, a very versatile player and he would do well for a lot of clubs so I think it is a great signing for Rangers."
The move for Sands has been some time in the making and the midfielder will now aim to hit the ground running as Rangers prepare to return to Premiership action later this month.
The champions still have cup and continental ambitions this season but it is in the top flight where they must succeed under the guidance of Van Bronckhorst.
"I think Rangers is a great stepping stone for James," Berhalter said. "Rangers are a top club in Scotland, playing at the highest level of European football and really a great team to come into to experience what winning and competing for titles and Champions League is really about.
"So, for James, he has done well in MLS and now he is moving to another level where he is going to be challenged. He will still have the support of the club and will be able to ease into competing.
"James is quiet, he leads with quiet intensity. He is a guy that is always focused on his role, always focused on performing and he is a fierce competitor.
"In the locker room, he is quiet. But when he is on the field he changes his personality and becomes much more aggressive. He wants to win every play that he is in and every game that he is in."
Sands has arrived in Glasgow with an impressive CV for City and the national side that Berhalter has been in charge of for the last four years.
It was the former defender that handed Sands his international debut last July and he is sure there is plenty more to come from one of America's most promising talents.
Berhalter said: "James is a very versatile player that is excellent at reading the game and gives the coach flexibility because he can play in a number of positions.
"He competes in every play, technically very good and we were able to use him both as a centre-back and a centre midfielder. That really helped the team.
"James has done a great job for us and played in some really big games. I think about his performances in the Gold Cup and the World Cup qualifiers and I think it is going to be a great opportunity for him to continue to grow at Rangers.
"We are going to monitor him closely because we think he can play a big role with the national team."
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