James Sands refused to blink as he ran out for his New York City debut aged just 16 in the glare of World Cup winners Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.
And Matt Lawrence reckons there is no chance the new Rangers signing will be left starstruck as he prepares to take his place in the Old Firm spotlight.
The versatile US international has completed an 18-month loan to Ibrox as Gers move swiftly to replace £12million Everton recruit Nathan Patterson.
The 21-year-old was barely out of school when he was thrust into a superstar Big Apple dressing room assembled when the Abu Dhabi owners of Manchester City poured their cash into the MLS.
Since then, he’s gone on to become a regular for club and country and former Fulham, Millwall and Crystal Palace defender Lawrence - who now commentates for NYCFC on American telly - reckons his switch to Scotland is the perfect next step.
The Englishman told Record Sport : “I’ve been in New York for five years and when I first came across James he was just 16. He’s 21 now and there’s been a massive evolution, both as a footballer and as a human being.
“He was the club’s first home-grown player to make the first-team so he’s been under a bit of scrutiny. But he’s coped so well.
“People will have seen the video of him making his MLS debut back in September 2017, coming on for Andrea Pirlo.
“But six months before that he actually made his first senior start in a friendly down in Ecuador.
“They were playing a team called Emelec in Guayaquil, which is a tough place to play.
“The game was at altitude and there were 40,000 fans going nuts.
“That was literally his first pro start and was in midfield alongside Pirlo with David Villa up front.
“Here’s a kid at 16 playing with one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen at a really difficult venue in harsh conditions and he handled it like he was in the school playground. He was the star man.
“He’s not daunted by anybody he plays with or against. You could put him in the same dressing room as Ronaldo or Messi and he wouldn’t blink.”
Sands already has 65 appearances in the US top flight under his belt and helped former Celtic boss Ronny Deila secure the club’s first MLS Cup last month.
Capped seven times by the States, he’s also had a taste of international success having been part of the Americans' line-up to land Gold Cup glory last summer.
However, Sands is unlikely to have faced the kind of expectation to triumph that crashed down on his shoulders the second he touched down at Glasgow Airport.
But Lawrence - who skippered Millwall to their 2004 FA Cup final appearance against Manchester United - said: “James has this demeanour where he can handle everything that’s thrown at him.
“He never looks nervous. He’s a wonderful, level-headed young man.
“I remember when he signed his first contract hearing him say how excited he was but now he needs to go to work and improve. That’s a 16-year-old kid!
“That took me back. He spoke about wanting to learn off Pirlo, Villa and Patrick Vierra, who was his coach at that time.
“He’s learned from the best and had some amazing role models. And he still wants to learn now.
“He’s been an MLS All-Star, won an MLS Cup with New York and the Gold Cup with the US. But he’s no Billy Big-Time.
“In his eyes, he still hasn’t made it - which is the right attitude.
“The MLS and Scottish Premiership are closely matched but when you talk about joining Rangers and Celtic, that’s a step up.
“Over here, there’s crowds of up to 40,000 so James is used to playing in big arenas.
“The question is, how will he cope in Glasgow with one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“It’s a big challenge for him. He’s moving from a club that’s only seven years old to one that has history stretching back 150 and won dozens of trophies.
“There’s only a point in him moving to Glasgow if he’s going to play in those big games against Celtic and in Europe.
“But in my opinion he’ll deal with it easily.”
Sands can slot in as a defender across both a back three and a back four as well as filling the holding midfield slot.
Gers have negotiated a try-before-you-buy agreement with an option to sign the American at the end of his 18-month stay.
But Lawrence said: “Given what he’s done in the last few years - winning an MLS Cup and the Gold Cup - I don’t think anybody has to try James Sands.
“I think he’s more than good enough for Rangers now.
“If they’re getting him on effectively an 18-month trial that looks a good deal for Rangers.
“He still does have to learn and evolve but he’ll love the challenge at Rangers
“The kid reads the game fantastically well but my only worry is that he gets tarred with a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ tag.
“If you ask me, eventually he'll be best as a centre-half but honestly he could play anywhere in defence or midfield for Rangers right now.
“James is not stupid. He’ll have spoken to lots of people. Claudio Reyna was formerly the General Manager at NYCFC and gave James his first contract. Matt Polster is back playing in the US so I’m sure he’ll have called both of them given they played for Rangers.
“And I’m sure he’ll have talked to Ronny, who’s a wonderful person. He has so much love for his players and wants them to succeed. I’m sure he’ll be rooting for him even if it means signing for Rangers.”
