Dujon Sterling now undroppable for Philippe Clement at Rangers after fresh injury blow, Ibrox exit looked all set weeks ago
Rangers summer signing Dujon Sterling has now become the perfect example of how a few weeks can change a footballer’s career.
The former Chelsea youngster arrived on a free transfer in the summer after flourishing on loan at Stoke City last season but has saw his role at Ibrox limited due to injuries.
The 23-year-old has only made a handful of appearances in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, with his only start coming against Celtic in the first Old Firm Derby of the campaign, where he was deployed by Michael Beale on the left of defence.
It was a tactical decision which certainly failed miserably.
Sterling was substituted not long after the hour mark in that game as he was one of many Rangers players who struggled against Brendan Rodgers’ side, winning only 44 per cent of his nine ground duels and failing to complete a single one of his three attempted dribbles [Fotmob].
Journalist Chris Jack told the Rangers Review morning briefing on 26 October that Philippe Clement was “paying the price” of his predecessor’s decision since Sterling isn’t ready to step in to grasp his opportunity and that the 24-year-old has already become a “forgotten” member of the squad.
It all seemed like a swift exit from Ibrox was all set already for the former Chelsea academy star.
However, under new boss Clement, he’s now made four cameo appearances and was rather impressive when he came on in the 1-0 win over Hearts (6 December), winning 100% of his ground duels, completing 100% of his dribbles, 75% of his passes and registering two clearances [SofaScore].
He followed that up against Dundee United on Saturday (9 December) when he played an unfamiliar role in midfield after Jose Cifuentes’ controversial red card – a game in which he could have scored after seeing a shot cannon back off the post.
With Clement set to undergo a revamp of the squad in January, many will have expected Sterling to be one of the first players out already, just a few months after joining the club.
However, that has all changed now with Sterling set to become an undroppable commodity now in midfield after yet another dreadful injury blow at Ibrox.
The Belgian coach was left raging after their 2-0 win over St Johnstone after key midfield veteran John Lunstram limped off in the first half after a dreadful challenge from Diallang Jaiyesimi for which he was deservedly sent off after a VAR intervention.
It’s now been confirmed by Clement that Lundstram is set for scans and will miss their Christmas Eve match against Motherwell, meaning the Gers are now without Tom Lawrence, Ryan Jack, Cifuentes and Nicolas Raskin in what is a largely disrupted and depleted midfield weaponry.
That means Sterling will be gearing up for regular minutes and his impressive cameos in midfield in recent weeks surely now makes him an undroppable commodity when a few weeks ago, his desperately short Rangers career looked incredibly bleak.
Just when Sterling will feature in his preferred position at right back for the first time remains to be seen with James Tavernier going strong but right now, he’s needed in midfield.
It’s crazy how quickly things can turn for the better in a footballer’s career. Sterling has now emerged as the defining example of that fact.
In other Rangers news, Tavernier and Goldson were both said to be shocked by the behaviour of Beale during preseason.