Recently Ibrox Noise told you James Sands is likely to be recalled by New York City FC, and manager Nick Cushing did not deny it when asked yesterday.

The utility man has fallen entirely out of favour under Michael Beale, the Rangers manager only using the American as a substitute now and then, and frustrating many fans who don’t want him used even in that capacity.

He was heavily criticised for bringing him on rather needlessly v the other team which helped cost Rangers all three points that day, and since then Sands hasn’t been too popular among supporters. Or now, it seems, Beale himself.

New York boss Cushing confirmed the MLS outfit’s position:

Usually when a manager refuses to deny something, it means it’s true – Cushing completely evaded this question, because when a manager directly addresses it to deny it like our own Michael Beale did with Everton’s Tom Davies, that draws a line under the subject.

But in this case Cushing is adding fuel to the fire by failing to rule it out and the chances are in the coming days or weeks, with the MLS transfer window open, Sands will find himself flying back across the pond to return to NYCFC with parent club boss Cushing recalling him.

It’s not 100% confirmed yet but it might as well be. If it wasn’t on the cards, Cushing would have said so. That’s how it works.

Sands would leave with our best wishes at Ibrox Noise – he did a sterling job filling in during the worst of our injury crisis, and got us out of a jam – he also carries himself extremely well and with a touch of class. It’s just a pity overall that he’s not quite good enough to make the step up to be a permanent Rangers player.

But he’d absolutely depart with honour, unlike quite a few who haven’t held themselves with anything like the same grace and have not had a quarter of the abuse Rangers fans gave Sands.

One of the People.