Rangers fans wanting rid of James Sands might have to wait a little longer after a new midfield and defensive injury crisis hit the club, requiring the flexible utility man’s services once more.

With Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Nicolas Raskin and Connor Goldson all significant doubts for the trip to Almondvale, Sands’ indispensable auxiliary skills may well come into the fold once again as the American fills in to cover the absences.

It’s a curious tale over the NYCFC man, mostly hated by the bulk of Rangers supporters who consider him a liability and a ‘bombscare’, Sands actually, predictably, got widely-praised earlier in the season when used in his proper midfield position to excellent effect.

Indeed, he was praised and demands were made that he always play there, ‘his best slot’.

But a few further appearances in his slightly weaker defensive position at the back, most of which didn’t impress supporters, and he was back to being maligned and fans being unable to drive him to the airport fast enough.

The fickle fan.

Rest assured, Sands is one of the tidiest players we have – he is not, admittedly, a great reader of the game in the rearguard, but he is good at pure defending, and he’s a lot better period when it comes to midfield, that being his most natural slot.

Indeed, October 29th, finally being used there v Aberdeen in a comfortable 4-1 win and remained there for the next two thereafter – and widely praised by fans for individually impressive performances.

But when slotted back into defence, made an easy scapegoat for unconvincing performances by the team as a whole.

And now with a bit of a crisis hitting us yet again in midfield, and defence, his name is likely to be on the team sheet again whether fans like it or not.

Sands is likely to be recalled to his parent club, but for now, he could be yet again bailing us out in a time of mild crisis.

And we imagine he won’t be particularly appreciated for it any more this time than he was earlier in the season when he did it back then.