Tying in beautifully with our previous content on the potential departing Kosta Nedeljković is the rise to firmly established club right back Dujon Sterling. It is now abundantly clear that Dujon Sterling is the established and first choice right back at Ranger. He will be so for the foreseeable future. Now this is not what Ibrox Noise would have chosen in terms of Sterling’s position. Primarily he is a defensive midfielder and it is his strongest position. Very few Rangers fans seem to acknowledge this now. But they did at the time when he was strong in that slot under previous managers. But he has rarely played there. And Dujon Sterling Rangers RB has become his main place.
Dujon Sterling Rangers right back role
It is the position he was reared and developed as a youth. Before, that was, then curiously being pigeonholed by loan clubs into right back. That is the same situation that has happened with Ross McCrorie, curiously enough. We’ll have a separate piece on him entirely in due course. But for Sterling, he is clearly the first choice right back. This is why Nedeljković has barely had a sniff of first team action since joining in the summer.
Sterling has managed to do one simple thing this season. One thing he has never done before. Stay fit. He said it himself, he’s had an extended run in the team. Consequently his body has got used to the position and used to playing again properly. We all knew how much of a talent Sterling is. He is not exactly smooth on the ball, nor will he create chances. But when it comes to the pure bread and butter of the game and physicality, there are few better in Rangers squad than he.
Sterling established at Rangers right back
There can be little doubt he has been outstanding as right back. He is not naturally right back, but he is more than happy to play there. He’ll play anywhere that the club wants him to play, and McInnes has clearly chosen Sterling to be the first choice player in that position. It’s hard to argue with it. He’s been good. He’s been very good.
He has been a significant upgrade on James Tavernier, to say the least, because nothing gets past Sterling. He is far stronger, far more physical, and reads the defensive line way better than the former captain ever did. This is not an article about taking digs at James Tavernier, of course, but the reality is, as far as pure right back and defensive duties go, Tavernier was not very good. He did put in tackles and he did put in interceptions, but he left the back door all open so much that Rangers were exposed time and time again down the right hand side. It was a complete consistent during his entire time at the club.
Rangers right back defensive cover
There was only one season when Rangers were protected down the right hand side. It was the one we won the title, and that was due to Ryan Jack. He is the major reason Rangers won 55 due to covering Tavernier’s constant marauding forward. Rangers had a defensive cover, with Jack filling up all the lanes at the right hand side, and did an absolute tower of work. We’ll have a separate piece on Jack as well in due course.
But getting back to the point of Dujon Sterling Rangers RB being the new choice now, things are far more robust at the back. They’re much more tight and he’s keeping things out. He is an excellent right back, even if he doesn’t offer that much going forward at all. His job is not to get forward and attack. His job is to keep the back door closed, and boy does he do that well.
Dujon Sterling Rangers right back future
It’s why he has remained as first choice right back, and for the foreseeable future, he is now established as Rangers first choice right back. It’s a surprise to many of us. It started out as a bit of an experiment and a utility choice, but it turns out he’s actually strong there. So he won’t be moving any time soon.
Unfortunately for Kosta Nedeljković, he most likely will be.