Dujon Sterling vitally needs to start in Rangers’ midfield

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Dujon Sterling vitally needs to start in Rangers’ midfield
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 30: Callum McGregor of Celtic challenges Dujon Sterling of Rangers during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

It’s abundantly clear Rangers manager Philippe Clement has it wrong in a number of areas with the club – it had been scraping the wins recently, but the wheels came off lately and the victories have dried up.

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And one of the most infuriating parts of this is his poor use of Dujon Sterling.

When he first came, no one knew him, or why we’d signed him. We knew he wouldn’t usurp James Tavernier at RB so it was a bit of a weird one.

He didn’t get a look in under Michael Beale.

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But then Philippe Clement came in, brought him in as a midfielder and the 24-year-old didn’t look back.

But he did, didn’t he?

Despite being a real powerhouse in midfield, Sterling was subsequently dropped as a starter from that position after the loss to Motherwell. Scapegoated? Who knows.

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But we’ve not seen him in central midfield anywhere near enough – our weak midfield was turned over by Celtic, and Sterling had to make do at left back.

And this whole calendar year Clement has wasted him.

He’s played RM, LB, RB, CM, DM, RW, LW – there has indeed been something of a running joke about all the positions Clement has put him in.

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Why he can’t just leave him in his best slot of CM we’re not sure.

It’s sure not because anyone else is shining there – we’ve seen Raskin, Dowell and Diomande all in there – none of them has convinced at all next to John Lundstram.

Only Sterling has, so it figures that he has to make do in the wrong position or on the bench.

He even admitted midfield is his favourite slot a number of weeks ago, he’s happy there, and he’s clearly best there, so why the manager won’t play him there is anyone’s guess.

A manager can get away with baffling team selections if the team is winning, but the moment those victories stop, the team selection comes under scrutiny.

And it’s clear that Sterling’s place on the bench is more under the spotlight than ever.

Will it change?

Probably not.

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