THE switch from New York to Glasgow was a leap of faith from James Sands as he left behind the bright lights and big city aiming to realise a European ambition and make his name at Ibrox.
Six months on, he is even more convinced that he made the right move at the right time now that he can see the step that will take him to the next level with Rangers.
A debut campaign of 14 appearances for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side saw Sands play his part in the run to the Europa League final and earn a medal as the Scottish Cup was won.
There were glimpses of what he can bring to the team and why Van Bronckhorst was so keen to secure his services on a loan switch that will keep him in Glasgow for a full season this time out.
Sands knew what benefits he had to reap from life at Ibrox. As he prepares for the new season, he is confident the positives, both individually and collectively, will continue to rack up in the coming months.
"A big reason why I came here was being able to deal with the atmosphere and environment you get with the home games and a lot of the European games," Sands said.
"I think that’s what separates the top players and just the average ones. Learning to be in big environments has been a big plus for me.
"I think any time you’re at a club like this there’s going to be competition. You look throughout the squad now and each position is two or three players deep so I think it’ll really help the squad in the long run.
"Personally, I enjoy a bit of competition. I’m always going to back myself so I’m just looking forward to the start of the year.
"I think some of the games I was part of, you won’t find many bigger games wherever you look. It’s been great for me as a young player being in this environment, learning from the older guys on the team and just keep developing.
"I would love [to make the move permanent]. It’s a big club and anybody would be lucky to play here. There’s always a little bit that’s out of your hands.
"I have to be performing and playing well to earn that opportunity but it’s not in my control. I’m just going to focus on playing and doing my best."
If Sands is to extend his stay beyond the end of the season, he will need to establish himself in a squad that has been bolstered once again as Van Bronckhorst bids to build in his own first full season at Ibrox.
Life in the Glasgow goldfish bowl and the unique Scottish football environment can take time to adjust to but the new recruits will be expected to hit the ground running given what is at stake this term.,
Sands has already been through that process. He may have only recently turned 22, but he is wiser for what he has experienced so far on these shores.
"I think I’ve taken it in my stride more or less," Sands said when asked about any shift in mentality since making the move from New York to Glasgow. "The first day you step into the training ground you can kind of feel that and the way people train and approach games.
"There’s no other option but to win. That’s obviously a little different from MLS but it makes people better players so it’s definitely exciting.
"The league in MLS is much stronger than many people think and I think a lot of the teams compared to the league outside of Rangers and Celtic is pretty comparable.
"You get a lot of South American influence in MLS so some technical players. I still think this league has more intensity to it and the games are played at a faster pace so it’s good for me to see both styles.
"I would say definitely [we are ready for the new season]. We’ve had tough pre-season matches and ones where we’ve done quite well so we’re really looking forward to the new season and winning the league and making up for last year."
That process will begin with a trip to Livingston on Saturday. Just days later, Rangers will return to European competition as they set their sights on the Champions League this term.
Their summer schedule has been encouraging and Sands is confident there is further improvement to come as he and Van Bronckhorst's side move through the gears in the coming weeks.
"I think it’s been really good," Sands said. "It’s been nice for me to be with the team from the start and not come midway through the year so that’s been nice.
"I think for myself and the whole team it’s nice to have a full pre-season with the coaching staff. Their ideas and how they want to play, it’s easier to implement that over pre-season. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.
"I didn’t really have an off-season coming off the back of my MLS season so it was nice to have some time away and I’m feeling refreshed about the season and just looking to tackle it head-on.
"I think [my aim is] just to get on the field more consistently. As I said, it’s a really talented group but I think I’m more than capable of having a bigger impact.
"I think I can use the experiences that I had in my first six months like playing in the Europa League and some of the big league games to help me develop and get better for the rest of the season."
