Rangers boss Philippe Clement has praised defender Dujon Sterling having made an impact off the bench against Dundee on Saturday afternoon.
The Gers looked to be in for a tricky afternoon at Ibrox as Amadou Bakayoko fired Dundee into an early lead.
Rangers roared back though with Cyriel Dessers, James Tavernier and Abdallah Sima all finding the net in the space of 14 minutes.
Jose Cifuentes picked up a red card before half-time, which could have thrown a spanner in the works.
Rangers saw out the game though, claiming a vital 3-1 win as Celtic lost at Kilmarnock less than 24 hours later.
Philippe Clement praises Rangers defender Dujon Sterling
Cifuentes picking up a red card forced Philippe Clement into a change.
On came summer signing Dujon Sterling, who we mostly know as being a versatile defender.
The former Chelsea talent is predominantly a right back but has played at left back for Rangers, as well as being able to play as a right-sided defender in a back three.
Sterling played a totally different role on Saturday, coming on to play in midfield – and boss Clement liked what he saw.
Clement has told Rangers’ official website that he felt Sterling played a ‘really good game’ despite not really playing as a midfielder before.
Clement adds that Sterling is impressing in training and will ‘get more minutes’ in the coming weeks because he deserves to be playing.
“He played a really good game in a position that he never plays but I see what I see in training. He is working hard, he wants to play minutes in whatever position,” said Clement.
“He was important at Hearts to play at left full-back and now in the midfield, he can play right full-back, he can for me also play as a winger so if he keeps on pushing like that, he will get more minutes in the next couple of weeks that is clear because he deserves it,” he added.
Sterling can now prove he isn’t just a Beale signing
Michael Beale brought Sterling to Rangers and certainly seemed to be a signing driven by the former Gers boss.
Beale knew Sterling from the Chelsea youth ranks and reunited in Glasgow as his Stamford Bridge contract came to an end.
There may have been fears that Sterling would be one of those players who fade away once a new manager comes in.
We have seen that before with the likes of Fabio Cardoso and Eduardo Herrera from the Pedro Caixinha era.
Sterling now has a chance to prove that he isn’t just a Beale pick and that he can make a long-lasting impact under Clement having caught the eye on Saturday.
