Rangers need all the ‘winners’ they can get at the moment and yesterday a pundit highlighted one that should be in the team.
The team may have got back on track and three points on the board against St Mirren at the weekend but it wasn’t exactly convincing.
Up next is a trip to the Aberdeen side six points ahead in the league followed by a league cup semi-final against Motherwell. It’s a tricky period.
Aside from the magnitude of the fixtures, they are coming thick and fast.
Philippe Clement has to manage his squad and fans will be hoping some of the other games can be dealt with more convincingly.
Should Dujon Sterling be in the Rangers team?
Michael Stewart yesterday told how he feels Clement needs to get ‘winner’ Dujon Sterling into his Rangers team as he struggles for game time.
The utility man was handed a sub appearance against St Mirren, his first outing since a six minute cameo against St Johnstone on October 6.
He has started just two Premiership matches this season but was often used across the backline, in midfield and even on the wings last season.
Stewart revisited the topic on Premier Sports Scottish Football Social Club show and reiterated his strong backing for Sterling to get a game.
He said: “I just don’t get it. I don’t think he should be playing at centre-back… For me, I think Sterling should be at right-back, but now Kasanwirjo’s getting in ahead of him as well (as Tavernier).
“But the centre of the park then, when you’re looking for a bit of athleticism and presence, with a Sterling in there, they’d have a better balance.”
Alan Hutton wasn’t disagreeing with the point but did raise a potential “red flag” in relation to the 25-year-old.
The former Gers right-back said: “The midfield, I think Connor Barron has done well since he’s come in, Diomande has maybe not quite hit the heights that we’ve seen in the past. They need someone with a bit of experience.
“I know Sterling isn’t an experienced player, but I think that’s what they miss. If you look at the Celtic or Aberdeen midfields, they have experienced players that can control games, and I don’t think we see enough of that from Rangers.
“Sterling, it is an interesting one. I think it was the Malmo game where he played Kasanwirjo ahead of him at left-back, and he said he wasn’t fit enough. That was a big red flag for me. Is he not trying hard enough? Did he have a knock? He’s used sparingly now.”
The James Tavernier Rangers situation that would be ‘flabbergasting’
Stewart also insisted he would be “flabbergasted’ and ‘astonished’ if James Tavernier doesn’t start for Rangers against Aberdeen.
The captain, 32, was on the bench against St Mirren but was probably just being rested. The pundit insists the skipper will almost certainly be back in the side at Pittodrie.
He said: “I would be absolutely flabbergasted if Tavernier is not playing against Aberdeen. It’s a monumental game for Rangers.
“I would be astonished if Tavernier is not playing in the game.”
