DaMarcus Beasley has a reputation as the amiable joker within the US national squad, yet he will be deadly serious about refocusing his career with Rangers.

The 25-year-old left winger is due in Glasgow this week to finalise details of his £700,000 transfer from PSV Eindhoven after playing a pivotal role in his country's victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Completing the move will present an opportunity for a fresh start. There has been frustration as well as fanfare for Beasley since he moved to the Netherlands in 2004.

The player's direct running was a major influence in the US claiming their fourth continental title on Sunday night, yet he could afford a wisecrack at his own expense after failing to convert a prime chance late in the 2-1 final win over Mexico. Set up by Landon Donovan, he miscued a shot above the target with the net gaping.

After the semi-final win over Canada, Beasley had aimed a good-natured jibe at Donovan by insisting an open-goal miss from his team-mate deserved a place on any DVD of sport's top-50 bloopers. He ranked his own entry a little higher. "Mine has to be top two," Beasley grimaced. "It happens. I hope it never happens again."

A place in the team of the tournament confirmed Beasley could be excused a wry grin at his moment of inaccuracy, yet the player's sense of humour has been sorely tested at times over the past few years. Signed by PSV from Chicago Fire as a potential replacement for Arjen Robben, Beasley battled homesickness and inconsistent form in a bid to establish himself in the Eredivisie.

He had more immediate success in the rarefied atmosphere of the Champions League than he did in the Dutch domestic game, becoming in 2005 the first American player to feature in the semi-final stage. Guus Hiddink's team lost on away goals to AC Milan, but Beasley had impressed with four goals in 12 Champions League games.

Dutch journalists who follow PSV closely say Beasley was always honest about his annoyance at being unable to attain the performance levels he demanded of himself. Adjusting to life in Eindhoven was an understandably awkward process for a young man from Fort Wayne, Indiana, but returning home to play for the US provided regular morale boosts.

Beasley had firmly established himself as a key component of his national side at the 2002 World Cup when Bruce Arena's team reached the quarter-finals before losing to Germany. He had become, along with Donovan, a rising star of American soccer, yet that love affair with American supporters hit difficulties at Beasley's second World Cup finals.

The US failed to win a game in Germany last summer and it was Beasley and Donovan who were lined up as scapegoats in the media. After the opening 3-0 defeat from the Czech Republic, Arena went public with his criticism, claiming the team "got nothing from Beasley". The winger bit back by querying the tactics employed by Arena and a decidedly frosty atmosphere developed. It may well have been a relief to Beasley when Arena was replaced by Bob Bradley after the tournament.

"I've let it go," he said recently about the furore.

"I haven't thought about the World Cup in a long time.

I don't have any problems with Bruce. I don't know if he has any problems with me. We kind of made up after the things we said in the paper. I have a lot of respect for him."

Ronald Koeman had replaced Hiddink when Beasley returned for the new season at PSV, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that his future lay elsewhere. A loan move to Manchester City seemed a positive solution, yet injury hampered his initial acclimatisation to the Premiership. Beasley managed a more solid participation in the second half of last season and ended with four goals from 22 appearances for City.

Moves were made to tempt him back to Major League Soccer. John Ellinger, the former coach of Real Salt Lake, flew to Manchester to discuss a possible switch home, but was told that Beasley had unfinished business in Europe.

"Coming back to the MLS is something I would be willing to do if everything was right," said Beasley. "But this wasn't the right time to go home. I want to remain in Europe for three to five years. Then maybe I'll think about it. I don't want to be back in the MLS when I'm 33. I want to come back when I can still do what I do now; make runs and beat people."

It will be successfully expressing that ability, rather than Beasley's verbal wit, that will put a smile on Walter Smith's face in the new season.