Generously listed at 5-foot eight-inches (1.73 m) and 145 pounds (66 kg) in official US Soccer Federation literature, the reality of DaMarcus Beasley's frame is something considerably less substantial. In person, the jet-heeled winger looks more an underfed teenager than a top-tier footballer.

Despite his physical shortcomings, the oft-abused little Beasley has spent the last six years tormenting more massive markers with pace, remarkable dribbling ability and a never-say-die attitude that belies his boyish vitals.

When he decided to leave Manchester City (where he was on loan) at the start of the current season and sign for the Glasgow giants in the Scottish Premier League, some thought DaMarcus, following in the footsteps of former US Ranger Claudio Reyna, was in for a baptism of fire in a championship known for being fast, furious and, at times, physical. Sure enough, Beasley's opening match proved a crude welcome to his adopted country. The victim of some decidedly roughhouse marking by Inverness' Ross Tokely (1.91 m and 79 kg), Rangers coach Walter Smith was dangling out of his technical area protesting the treatment of his new man.

As is so often the case, the talented Beasley, still just 25, was in on the last laugh. Rangers won out 3-0 on the day. "I knew it would be physical and I've always been a small guy. Other players have always towered over me and they always try to knock me off the ball," said Beasley, who got another rough ride on Wednesday when the US lost out 1-0 to Sweden in a friendly in Gothenburg.

Never one to complain, the little man known as 'jitterbug' for his jinking runs and incessant trickery, has gone on to establishe himself in the Rangers' first team with a goal in five appearances.

Out of nowhere
Hailing from Fort Wayne, Indiana, midway between Detroit, Chicago and Cincinnati in the American Midwest, Beasley came up through the US national youth academy in the shadow of one Landon Donovan.

In his first major international competition, Beasley scored a goal and provided countless assists from the wide position in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand, where the Americans broke ground with a run to the semis. Even then, though, golden boy Donovan, who finished clutching the golden ball, overshadowed DaMarcus' achievement of second-best player.

After winning two Open Cup title's with hometown side Chicago Fire, Beasley wriggled his way into the US senior national team ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, where, alongside Donovan again, he established himself as a US shooting star in his own right.

His performances caught the eye of then Korea boss Guus Hiddink, who signed Beasley for PSV Eindhoven at the start of the 2004 season. There DaMarcus became the first American to contest a Champions League semi-final and helped PSV pick up their 18th Dutch title. He also became a fan favourite, largely due to his entertaining playing style, hearty good nature when suffering hard challenges and off-field fashion sense and hip-hop sensibility.

Brought in to replace the seemingly irreplaceable Arjen Robben, Beasley suffered from injury and was loaned out to Manchester City in England for the 2006 /7 season, where he scored four goals in 22 appearances.

A new world
The player recently came face to face with the ugly underbelly of the global game when, in a Champions League qualifier against FK Zeta in Montenegro earlier this month, he and team-mate Jean-Claude Darcheville were the alleged victims of racist chanting. The Zeta fans are currently under investigation by UEFA, but Beasley - who spoke out about the incidents - laughed last again as his late goal earned the Ibrox side passage with a 1-0 win.

As the much-lauded Landon Donovan - whose European adventure in Germany proved a failure - stays rooted at home in sunny California, Beasley - always the earnest tryer - is tasting the essence of over a century of football fanaticism on the old continent. And soon enough he will enter the cauldron of the 'Old Firm.'

"I've been fortunate enough to play in some good derbies so far in my career, but I think Rangers-Celtic will be the biggest," said DaMarcus, who meets the Hoops on 20 September and was most impressed by the atmosphere of a previous Old Firm clash he attended while on international duty in Scotland. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. I know what's at stake."

When asked jokingly if he already 'hates' the old enemy Celtic, his reply was diplomatic yet satisfactory for Rangers' fans. "I wouldn't say I hate them, but I have a strong dislike," he half-laughed. "Once you're involved at Rangers and you know the history about it, it goes with the territory. You don't wear green. You don't talk about Celtic. There are things you just don't do."

Already with a certain distaste for green, inspired by over six years of epic USA-Mexico dust-ups, this summer Beasley recently helped the Americans to their fourth CONCACAF Gold Cup crown with a win over the bitter rivals to the south. In winning his second continental crown (he was top scorer when the US won in 2005), he brought his career caps to 69 and his total goals tally to 15, remarkable for a flank player, and doubly so for a young man so deceptively slight and insignificant.