James Sands is glad to be back with the U.S. men’s national team, and back in the parity-driven battles that make up an MLS schedule.
Sands is on the USMNT roster for Wednesday’s Continental Clásico, giving him a chance to break a bit of a strange gap in his national team resume. The 22-year-old was in uniform in half of the team’s World Cup qualifiers, but has been stuck on seven caps since starting in a September 2021 qualifier against Honduras.
Since then, Sands has won an MLS Cup with NYCFC, and spent 14 months playing for Rangers on loan in Scotland. He certainly saw plenty of time playing for one of the Scottish Premiership’s big clubs, appearing 41 times, but his loan was terminated early so he could return to MLS and sign a new contract with NYCFC.
For Sands, the reason for that move might be simple: being truly tested in every single game.
Speaking to NYCFC’s team site, Sands said that facing off with Atlanta United star Thiago Almada is an example of an advantage MLS has over the Scottish top flight, where the concentration of elite players is virtually entirely held by Rangers and their Old Firm rival Celtic.
“I really look forward to those sorts of challenges,” said Sands. “That’s something that I get here in MLS that I didn’t get at all really in Scotland in the league there, so it’s a nice change. Those guys will get the better of me sometimes, but it’s all about learning. I’m still a young player, and I’m trying to improve.”
Tough assignments key for Sands
While playing for Rangers came with Europa League and Champions League clashes and the pressure that comes in a country where soccer is king, the everyday of the Scottish Premiership meant regularly facing teams who were just looking to hang on for dear life rather than pose any new difficulties for Sands.
Since opting to return to MLS, Sands has started in all seven of NYCFC’s matches, and that has helped get him back in the frame for the USMNT. In that time, he’s faced players like Almada, Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, Xherdan Shaqiri with the Chicago Fire, and Carles Gil of the New England Revolution.
“I’ve been out of the national team for a little bit now, so it’s nice to have another opportunity,” explained Sands. “It’s just a couple days I’m there, so I just have to give it everything. I think I’ve worked really hard over the last couple months, so I’m very excited.”
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