All posts by h716a5.icu

Jude Bellingham is reportedly being allowed to play through injury at Real Madrid courtesy of a shoulder protector drafted in from the NFL.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

England star nursing shoulder complaintIssue may eventually require surgeryBlancos managing problem for nowWHAT HAPPENED?

The England international suffered a dislocation during a La Liga meeting with Rayo Vallecano – forcing him to sit out games for club and country. He returned to action against Cadiz and has continued to score goals at a record-breaking rate for the Blancos.

AdvertisementGetty/ GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Bellingham is up to 15 efforts through 17 appearances, with his exploits topping those previously posted by five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo at Santiago Bernabeu. Real are desperate to keep him on the pitch, in domestic and Champions League competition, with inspiration being sought from a different form of football.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to , Bellingham is wearing an NFL-style protector on his left shoulder, which is allowing him to play through any pain and remain a key part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.The 20-year-old has sported that accessory against Cadiz, Napoli and Granada.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

There have been suggestions that Bellingham will require surgery at some stage, with Real managing his injury for now. Any operation will not take place until the end of the season, with Bellingham also having major tournament action with England to contend with in the summer of 2024 as the Three Lions ready themselves for another European Championship campaign.

We independently choose all products featured on our site. We may earn a commission when you purchase something through the links provided.

Your last chance to save BIG on this years holiday shopping

One of the biggest online shopping events – behind Black Friday – Cyber Monday is one of the last times you can catch great savings ahead of the holidays. All the biggest and best online retailers drop their prices even further, making holiday shopping just that little bit more affordable.

November is set to be bigger than ever this year, and we've got everything you need to know right here to ensure you don't miss out.

From Saks to Amazon and Nike, all your favourite brands are heading into Cyber Monday 2022 with a host of unmissable deals – and we've picked out the best.

What is Cyber Monday?

Referring to the first Monday after Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday is a marketing term created by retailers for e-commerce transactions. The 24-hour shopping event follows Black Friday and encourages people to shop online, all while catching great price markdowns.

When is Cyber Monday 2022?

This year Cyber Monday falls on Monday, 28 November 2022.

Here at GOAL, we love a good deal and know that navigating a flurry of open tabs and retailers can seem daunting. That’s why we’re lending you a hand and bringing you a hand-picked selection of all the very best Cyber Monday 2022 deals we can find. All in one place. 

From soccer cleats to unmissable savings on tech, we've got all grounds covered.

Best Cyber Monday tech deals

Save $130 on this all-new Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 at Best Buy right now. This Cyber Monday, Best Buy are dropping their Black Friday prices even further so you can catch a host of unmissable deals just in time for the holidays.

Grab yourself a deal with money off Apple AirPods, which are great for jogs or the gym to drown out the chaos of the outside world. They automatically connect to your devices after you've set them up once, so there's no fuss with connecting them via Bluetooth every time.

Save a whopping $1,000 on this Samsung 65” TV at Best Buy right now. This Black Friday, there are a host of unmissable deals you can start shopping for before the Holiday shopping rush. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Ditch paperbacks for the Kindle Oasis, which can house 8GB worth of books on your reading list. Plus it's super compact which means you can easily slot it into your suitcase or carry-on bag when you're traveling. No more lugging around heavy books to stay entertained.

Ryan Reynolds has described Wrexham’s 10-goal thriller with Swindon, which included a 96th-minute equaliser, as the “most coked up, insane match”.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Dragons back in League TwoPlayed out 5-5 draw on home soilHollywood co-owners entertainedWHAT HAPPENED?

The Hollywood superstar was watching on from afar as the Dragons took in their latest League Two fixture. There was plenty to keep him and fellow co-owner Rob McElhenney on the edge of their seats. Wrexham went 4-1 down on home soil, but staged a stirring second-half fightback.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Phil Parkinson’s side hauled themselves back into the game during stoppage-time, with Elliot Lee netting the most dramatic of levellers in the dying seconds. McElhenney posted on Twitter: “Never. Ever. Ever. Leave a @Wrexham_AFC game.” He went on to say: “This team and this town will never give up. All heart all the time.”

AND WHAT'S MORE

Reynolds was also left in awe of Wrexham’s exploits, posting on Instagram at the end of a remarkable 5-5 draw: “That was the most coked up, insane football match I’ve seen in a long while. #NeverLeaveAWrexhamMatchEarly.”

InstagramENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Wrexham have picked up five points from four League Two fixtures in 2023-24, while also progressing to the second round of the Carabao Cup, and will be back in action next Saturday when taking in a trip to Barrow.

Dan Burn did not ask for Kylian Mbappe’s shirt when Newcastle faced PSG as he already has Peter Crouch and Per Mertesacker jerseys in his collection.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Magpies faced French giants in EuropeClaimed a notable continental scalpOne jersey attracted plenty of attentionWHAT HAPPENED?

The Magpies full-back lined up against World Cup winner Mbappe when Eddie Howe’s side played host to Ligue 1 title holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The Premier League outfit enjoyed the most memorable of European nights, with a 4-1 victory savoured at St James’ Park.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There was a clamour for Mbappe’s jersey during and after that contest, but North East native Burn made no play for a prized memento and joked with reporters afterwards about how he is happy with the swaps that he has made in the past: “It’s about shirts now, you can just go on YouTube and see you played against him. I haven’t asked for anyone’s shirt anyway. I’ve got a canny collection – I’ve got Peter Crouch’s, Per Mertesacker and Wayne Routledge. They are the only three ones I’ve got. I’m happy – get them framed on the wall!”

WHAT THEY SAID

Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles did not ask the question of Mbappe either, with the experienced centre-half telling : “I thought ‘I’m not even going to bother asking for it’. I got Marquinhos, which is not far off Mbappe! I didn’t want to talk to him. The only talking he was going to get was something aggressive! To play against players like that is crazy really, and credit to everyone involved tonight.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Magpies midfielder Sean Longstaff did try to swap with Mbappe, telling : “I was blocking him from a goal-kick so I tried to get it for my little brother.” He was left disappointed as Kieran Trippier – who revealed ahead of the game that his son wanted to walk out with Mbappe instead of him – winning the race for a much sought-after piece of sporting memorabilia.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed the England midfielder that he thinks may contend for the Euro 2024 next summer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

England looking for options for third midfielderCarragher thinks Alexander-Arnold could be the optionEngland one of the favourites for Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

Last month, Gareth Southgate's team easily qualified for their eighth major tournament in a row after defeating Italy 3-1 at Wembley. In recent international matches, players like as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips and Conor Gallagher have been tested alongside Southgate's first-choice midfield choices, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.

The Liverpool full-back, who played in midfield against North Macedonia and Malta has been a subject of considerable debate recently, and Carragher believes that he could be the perfect complement to the existing duo of Rice and Bellingham.

AdvertisementWHAT CARRAGHER SAID

"Southgate demonstrated his foresight when identifying this a few years ago, initially criticised for using Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder," Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column. "Although England were not great against Malta and North Macedonia, there was plenty to like about Alexander-Arnold’s performances, especially in the first game."

"An exciting, balanced midfield trio of [Jude] Bellingham, [Declan] Rice and Alexander-Arnold can take the national team close to winning Euro 2024. They would be my first choice."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking on international duty last week, Alexander-Arnold also hinted that an opportunity further forward is something he relishes: "My specific skill set and what I’m best at is someone who plays in the middle. You probably get more out of me from being in the middle and I’m able to show off that skillset as much as possible."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

Southgate will now have almost four months to strategise his potential plans for the midfield as the next international break does not arrive until March.

Lionel Messi has been credited with bringing “fun” transfers to MLS, with the Argentine being joined at Inter Miami by a number of ex-Barcelona stars.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Argentine icon moved to the States in 2023Joined by a number of familiar facesHerons chasing down more honours in 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner made his way to America in the summer of 2023. He was followed to Florida by former Camp Nou team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. They have since been joined in the Sunshine State by veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season PassStream nowAdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT GARBER SAID

MLS commissioner Don Garber considers those deals to be a good thing, telling of the progress being made in the U.S. game: “It's important to remind ourselves and everybody else that having arguably the best player of all time in our league says a lot about where MLS is, and how far it's come over the years. And I don't think Miami is stopping, right? Signing Luis Suárez and putting together a bunch of guys that Leo has played with for so many years, I think is fun. It's exciting. And I think we're going to see just more energy, and lots more attention in Year 2. But the league has been signing really big-name international players for many, many years, and we're going to continue to do that. But as importantly, focus as much as we can on not just the top of the roster and the players that will bring us attention around the world, but also young players both here in the U.S. and players from overseas. And I think probably for the first time, I think the story this year is about how some of the great young players, particularly from South America, are choosing MLS. You know, I [was] told a stat, 15 of the players in Olympic qualifying in South America are playing in MLS, and I think you're going to see more and more focus on our teams to sign young players and sign under-22 players. And then at the same time, sign guys like [Hugo] Lloris and [Emil] Forsberg and any other player that we think could round out sort of what kind of league we want to be.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

There have been calls for MLS to address current salary cap rules, allowing more marquee signings to be made, but Garber added on that long-running debate: “Every year we work to determine whether or not the roster rules we have are delivering what we need to deliver in order to grow our fan base, right? And I think Messi comes into the league and then all of a sudden there's this buzz that, 'OK, now maybe we're going to just dramatically change our roster rules.' Leo came in within our roster rules and there's no shortage of opportunity for other teams to do what Miami did, or to find whatever player makes sense for them in their local market. All that being said, we have evolved in sometimes really big ways and sometimes small ways, [but] our roster rules [change] every single year. And we will continue to look at that to ensure that we're managing our broad league-wide strategy to become more competitive in the regional and global landscape, but at the same time do it within practical and rational means.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

Messi will be the star attraction when the new MLS campaign gets underway on Wednesday, with Inter Miami preparing to host Real Salt Lake in a season-opener at DRV PNK Stadium. The Herons have four trophies to compete for in 2024, but a number of domestic and continental rivals are ready to block their path.

Australia’s selectors have chosen to drop Shane Watson after also learning that Brad Haddin will miss the second Ashes Test at Lord’s for personal reasons

Daniel Brettig14-Jul-20152:07

Brettig: A massive blow to the team psyche

Australia’s selectors have chosen to drop the allrounder Shane Watson after also learning that the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will miss the second Ashes Test at Lord’s for personal reasons. Peter Nevill, 29, will make his Test debut in Haddin’s absence while Mitchell Marsh is set for inclusion at Watson’s expense.Haddin will remain on the tour and there is no suggestion that he is retiring, but it is now hard to see Watson returning to the Test team now that the selection chairman Rod Marsh and the coach Darren Lehmann have decided to go with Marsh.The decision on Watson was brought about by his poor first Test at Cardiff and a recent run of indifferent performances in the long form of the game. He has not made a century since the Perth Test in December 2013, and has also failed to make a significant enough impact with the ball to merit a place. In Cardiff Watson was twice out lbw, a vivid reminder of an enduring blind spot in his technique.Marsh has meanwhile shown signs of significant progress, doubling his tally of first-class centuries with a pair of bold innings during the tour warm-up fixtures against Kent and Essex while also demonstrating a more mature approach off the field. Marsh has played four Tests for Australia, but this is the first time he has been chosen directly ahead of Watson.Earlier on Tuesday, Haddin was seen in conversation with Lehmann in the Pavilion and did not emerge from the dressing room to go to the nets. Haddin was also spoken to by the team psychologist Michael Lloyd. Meanwhile the reserve gloveman Nevill was talking to Rod Marsh in the Nursery End nets amid a range of conferences among Australian players and staff.The captain Michael Clarke had his head bowed as the news was relayed to him after he had batted. Nevill and Haddin, both New South Welshmen, have a close relationship, with Haddin saying earlier on this tour he was delighted to have Nevill as his reserve and potential replacement.It is not the first time that Haddin has been forced to absent himself from national duty due to personal reasons. In 2012 he withdrew from a tour of the West Indies due to the ill health of his daughter, Mia, and subsequently spent six months out of the game. He returned to the New South Wales team in time for the 2012-13 summer, and fought his way back into the first-choice wicketkeeping spot in time for the 2013 Ashes tour.Haddin went on to be a major contributor to the Australian 5-0 sweep of England in the home summer of 2013-14, playing a series of outlandish and effective innings with the bat while also being integral to the team as Clarke’s vice-captain and a mentor to younger players. It was Haddin’s preference last summer for Steve Smith to replace him as vice-captain when Clarke was injured and thus take the role of stand-in leader. Haddin was then a part of the World Cup-winning team before retiring from limited overs matches on the eve of the current Ashes tour.Nevill has played one match on tour, against Essex at Chelmsford, and will now become the 443rd Australian Test cricketer. He has impressed good judges with his combination of sound glove work and attractive batting, and scored 78 against Essex.The loss of Haddin is a blow to Australia’s hopes of levelling the series at Lord’s, even if he endured a difficult match in the first Test at Cardiff, dropping Joe Root on the first morning of the match and twice falling for low scores as the tourists tumbled to a 169-run defeat.Watson has enjoyed a more or less uninterrupted run in the Test team since Lehmann took over from Mickey Arthur as coach in 2013, missing three matches due to minor injuries. However his returns as a batsman have not warranted a place – only three times past 50 in his past 18 innings – and his bowling returns have also trailed off, tallying only 13 wickets in his past 22 Tests.He had been dropped from the ODI team during the World Cup earlier this year, but was swiftly reinstated after one game and went on to play a pivotal role for Australia in victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is difficult to see him returning to the Test team this time, however.

Luka Modric has been crowned Goal 50 winner for 2018, so where does the Real Madrid and Croatia ace rank among the greatest centre-mids of all time?

We chose our list based on a player's overall quality for both club and country, trophies won, big-game performances, consistency and longevity.

We only included players who generally featured and excelled regularly in either a two-man or three-man central midfield. Midfielders who mostly played further up the pitch were not considered.

Therefore, the likes of Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane and Zico were not selected by our writers, Carlo Garganese and Mark Doyle.

20Graeme Souness

As brilliant as he was brutal, Graeme Souness was the complete midfielder. He both scored and created goals. 

The Scot was also one of the toughest, most uncompromising players in football history – a man who once broke the jaw of an opponent, Movila of Dinamo Bucharest, for having the audacity to beat him with an audacious piece of skill.

Souness wasn't a man who made many friends on the pitch. He wasn't even universally popular among his Liverpool team-mates but he commanded respect.

A pure winner, the former Reds captain won five league titles and three European Cups during his six-year spell at Anfield. As former team-mate Alan Hansen once mused, "Among midfielders, Graeme was the king."

AdvertisementGetty Images19Jean Tigana

The engine of the wonderful France team that won Euro '84 and heartbreakingly lost on penalties in the semi-finals of the 1982 World Cup, Jean Tigana was a member of arguably the best international midfield Europe has ever seen – at least, until Spain’s Golden Era – along with Alain Giresse, Jean Fernandez and Michel Platini.

Tigana was a tireless runner who would hunt down opponents and win the ball off them to launch attacks. He was also extremely intelligent positionally and he played a crucial role in the legendary 3-2 extra time win over Portugal at Euro ’84, cutting back for Platini to score in the dying seconds.

Tigana was also a key part of the wonderful Bordeaux side that dominated French football in the 1980s and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1985, only to lose narrowly to eventual winners Juventus.

Getty18Roy Keane

Roy Keane was such a troubled character that questions over his temperament regularly overshadowed his talent. He clashed with opponents and team-mates throughout his career on account of an insatiable thirst for success that proved both a blessing and a curse.

Just like his manager at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, he demanded nothing less than 100 per cent commitment from himself and those around him. As a result, he effectively became United's on-field boss.

Keane and Ferguson would later fall out, resulting in an acrimonious exit, but not before the Irishman had lifted seven Premier League titles and one Champions League.

The Corkonian missed the final of the latter through suspension but, as Ferguson was at pains to point out, their treble-clinching triumph in Barcelona in 1999 would not have been possible without Keane, who produced a Herculean performance in the semi-final second-leg win over Juventus in Turin.

“It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field," the Scot enthused. "I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images17Didi

Voted best player at the 1958 World Cup, Didi was one of the first Brazilian free-kick masters and, fittingly, the man believed to be responsible for coining the term 'The Beautiful Game'.

The ex-Fluminense, Botafogo and Real Madrid star was the inventor of the ‘dry leaf’ free kick, so-called because it would dip and swerve in unpredictable directions. Of the 20 goals he scored for the Selecao, a dozen came from dead-ball situations.

He was also a brilliant passer and dictator of the play, winning two World Cups and scoring the first ever goal at the legendary Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Everything you need to know about French phenomenon N'Golo Kante!

N'Golo Kante is a French professional football player who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea FC and the France national team. He was born on March 29, 1991, in Paris, France, and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, known for his tireless work ethic, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities.

Kante began his football career at the age of eight, playing for the JS Suresnes youth team in the Paris suburbs. He later joined the youth academy of Boulogne, where he made his professional debut in 2012. In 2013, he signed with SM Caen, where he played for two seasons before being signed by Leicester City.

His impressive performances caught the attention of Leicester City, who signed him in 2015 for a fee of £5.6 million. Kante was an integral part of Leicester's historic Premier League-winning campaign in the 2015-16 season. His performances for Leicester also earned him a call-up to the France national team, and he made his debut in March 2016.

Following his success with Leicester, Kante joined Chelsea in 2016 for a fee of £32 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, helping them win the Premier League in his first season. Later on he would help them win their second Uefa Champions League trophy in 2021.

For France, he was an integral part of the team that won the 2018 Fifa World Cup, playing a crucial role in the midfield. Kante has made 53 appearances for France, scoring two goals. He has also participated in major international tournaments like the Uefa European Championship and the Uefa Nations League.

Kante's story have made him an inspiration not only for any child aspiring to be a world-class athlete in France, but people across the world to believe they can achieve whatever they want to. His humility and silent nature also makes him the ideal professional whom everyone can follow.

Here are 13 fun facts about N'Golo Kante you need to know…!

Roots that go back to Mali, Africa

N'Golo Kante's parents migrated from Mali to France in search of better opportunities.

Kante was born in Paris in 1991, where his father worked as a stonemason and his mother as a cleaner.

Kante's parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and determination to succeed.

AdvertisementHis name has royal origins

N'Golo Kante's parents named him after the great Mali emperor Ngolo Diarra of the Bambara empire.

Diarra was once a slave who, after receiving his freedom, overthrew the previous regime to establish himself as the ruler of Mali and begin a dynasty that ruled from 1766 to 1861.

It's fair to say the French midfielder has lived up to his name with a similar pivot to the top, going from the streets of Paris, to becoming one of the greatest players in football!

GettyInspired by France's 1998 World Cup victory

It was at the age of seven that Kante decided he wanted to become a professional footballer one day. Watching his nation win the 1998 World Cup was what triggered his desire to get into the sport. In particular, seeing the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, players with immigrant roots such as his own, enjoy great success for France proved crucial for making up his mind.

Thirty years later, the midfielder would himself be pivotal as France won the World Cup in 2018, thus bringing things a full circle.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Lack of success early on

While the midfielder is now a household name in the world of football, early on in his career barely any club took notice of him.

Due to his lack of height, many teams overlooked Kante, who was rejected by many academies including the likes of Rennes, Lorient, Sochaux, etc. Even the great Arsene Wenger decided against signing him when he was at JS Suresnes.

Ironically, the Gunners would try to sign him after his success with Leicester City in 2016, but would miss out to rivals Chelsea.

GOAL looks at five players that still have USMNT hopes with the World Cup around the corner.

There always seems to be some sort of surprise when World Cup rosters are announced.

From shocking omissions to risky inclusions, the U.S. men's national team has seen its share of World Cup controversy. Who can forget Julian Green's rise from anonymous to World Cup star, or the fact that it perhaps came at the expense of Landon Donovan?

As the USMNT prepares for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there could still be some surprises. With squads expanded to 26, Gregg Berhalter will have more roster flexibility than any of his predecessors.

Could he use that flexibility to take a big swing with a surprise September omission? Could he bring in a hot hand to replace an out-of-form regular? Could a familiar face make a late surge?

Here's a look at five players who could force their way into the World Cup squad after being left out of September camp:

Getty ImagesJordan Pefok

The first and most obvious one.

It could certainly be argued that Pefok was the big winner of the camp despite not being called in to play against Japan and Saudi Arabia. As his competitors floundered, Pefok was able to watch on knowing that his club form could be enough to lift him into the squad.

So far, his club form has been spectacular. He's scoring goals for Union Berlin, who are right at the top of the Bundesliga. That's a level that no other USMNT striker is playing at right now.

Will that be enough to get him into the squad? Well, it probably should, even if he isn't the perfect fit for Berhalter's system. Worst case, Pefok is a good change of pace for when the USMNT needs a goal because, at least for his club, he's proved he can get them.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTim Ream

Given what we saw from Aaron Long during this past window, is it smart to write Tim Ream off?

Ream has, for all intents and purposes, been written off for much of the past year. The veteran defender doesn't quite fit with this young USMNT group, and his lack of mobility makes him a less-than-ideal partner for Walker Zimmerman.

But, like Pefok, can you really deny the level that Ream is playing at? He's been a rock for Fulham for years, including during the early stages of the Premier League this season.

Ream brings leadership, experience and a bit more quality on the ball than any other healthy defender in the pool right now. He may be older, yes, but, if you're choosing the best center backs, Ream might have to be on that list considering the level he is playing at week in, week out for his club.

Getty ImagesBrandon Vazquez

Could Brandon Vazquez's first cap really come at a World Cup?

Going by purely goalscoring form, Berhalter should at least consider it. He's got 16 goals so far this season, after all, for a surging FC Cincinnati team.

Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, has scored once in the last year. Josh Sargent has started well this season, but spent basically all of last season not scoring goals. Ferreira has been great for his club, but generally wasteful with the USMNT, even if he does fit the system better than anyone else in the pool.

Even so, Vazquez faces an uphill battle, simply because he's never been on the field for the USMNT. Throwing him to the wolves at a World Cup would be a big ask, even if he was brought in as a third striker.

That said, stranger things have happened, and goals solve most problems.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyJames Sands

The Rangers defender/midfielder seems to be on the outside looking in.

He wasn't called up in September and is seemingly way down the depth chart at center back, the position he's most likely to play with the U.S.

He's had some growing pains with Rangers, notably against Ajax in the Champions League, but the former NYCFC star is playing at a high level with the Scottish giants. He's not super fast and he's certainly not very experienced against top teams at the international level.

But Sands is also a unique player in this player pool as he has a different kind of game than any of his competitors. He can play center back in a back two or three and can operate as a No. 6 as well.

If Plan A, the 4-3-3, isn't working, it would be nice to have a Plan B, and Sands is a player who can turn Plan B into a reality.

Still, the fact that Erik Palmer-Brown and Mark McKenzie were both called in ahead of him is a worrying sign that says Sands' hopes are pretty much over.