Philippe Clement is finally in the position where he isn’t scraping around trying to find who is fit enough to start for Rangers and patch a team together.
The squad is nearly at full strength which leaves the manager with some good problems to solve.
One of them, according to Barry Ferguson on the Go Radio Football Show, is at right back.
Barry Ferguson urges Rangers boss to drop James Tavernier
Dujon Sterling had apparently ousted James Tavernier as the starter after a poor run of form from the skipper.
However, Tavernier has taken being dropped in the best possible way by showing a positive return to form.
Spurs and Celtic are not Kilmarnock and Ross County though.
According to Ferguson, there is only one choice:
“I’d go Sterling. The only issue you have with Sterling is he missed a couple of games there, he had a blocked nerve in his back, or his side, I can’t remember exactly where it was.
“It’s just the injuries that he picks up, but listen, he came on yesterday, he’s certainly available and fit to play and there are big decisions to be made.
“Not just on Thursday, but on Sunday.”
Who is the best player for the job?
Tavernier’s form is almost irrelevant. The last few games have seen Rangers dominate possession and the full backs spend most of their time in the opposition half.
Against Spurs and Celtic, it will be entirely different.
In particular, the Rangers No.2’s problems are well known against Daizen Maeda and Clement would be walking into criticism if he persists with the 33-year old when he has a better defender available.
Maeda isn’t skillful, but he has the sort of pace that Tavernier can’t cope with anymore, pace that Sterling can match.
The full backs won’t be as high against Spurs and Celtic, but Sterling has shown that he can contribute in the final third if he needs to.
The whole point about having depth in the squad should mean that the same players don’t have to play every game.
Ferguson is right though, in the game that matters most, there is only one decision to make.
