James Sands has been urged to have a sit down with Giovanni van Bronckhorst ahead of the new season.
The versatile American has switched between roles during his first six months at Rangers and made just 14 appearances in all competitions since his move from New York City.
Matt Lawrence - who now commentates for NYCFC on American telly - has kept a keen eye on Sands during his time at the Ibrox side.
And he believes he needs to focus on one position and to be playing regularly for the best chance of going to the World Cup with the USA in November.
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Sands has missed out on the last couple of international squads with the first few months of the new campaign set to prove crucial in his bid to go to Qatar 2022.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Lawrence said: “When James was playing for New York City, he was a centre-half and that’s the position I always felt would offer him his best hope if he moved to Europe.
“He can also play in midfield and at right-back too, which gives the manager options.
“But I think for James next season, it would be best if he sat down with the manager and focused on one position where he’s going to stand the best chance of playing regularly, because you wouldn’t want to risk missing out on Qatar.
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“His versatility is useful but it’s always easier to really break into a team if you’re fully focused on one role.
“And the big thing is that James needs to be playing regularly to get himself into the World Cup squad.
“He’s missed out on the last couple of squads which will be a concern.
“Whatever decisions he takes over the next three months has to be with a view to getting back into the squad.
“Nobody gets assurances of game time but he’s got to have a good feeling he’s going to get more minutes in Glasgow.
“And he’s got to have a feeling where he’s going to play.
“There were times last season where he was sixth or seventh choice in midfield. That can’t continue if he wants to play at the World Cup.
“The best thing for Berhalter is that he can play in a number of positions and there’s certainly talk of him going because of that.
“But if he really wants to play a significant role, he needs to really nail down one slot.
“The six months he’s been there will have stood James in good stead in terms of getting used to the city, the league and the club.
“Hopefully that means he’ll be able to hit the ground running for the new season and he’ll know what’s required.
“Getting to play in a Europa League Final, even a 20-minute run-out, would have been beyond his wildest dreams when he signed.
“There’s no doubt he’d have wanted to have played more, but he did play in some really high-profile games and going forward, those experiences will stand him in really good stead.
“And he obviously must have done something to gain van Bronckhorst’s trust as there were times when he changed the system to a back three and put James in there.”
