Rangers: Dujon Sterling set for vital role vs Hibs as Ibrox breakout star under Philippe Clement
Philippe Clement has named an unchanged starting Rangers XI to face Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter final (10 March), just three days after battling for a 2-2 draw away at Benfica.
A huge injury issue in attack has depleted the Belgian’s options to the point where he hasn’t got a huge amount of leeway to rotate, with the likes of Abdallah Sima, Danilo, Todd Cantwell and Oscar Cortes all out.
But that has left breakout star Dujon Sterling in position to again be crucial for the Light Blues, having scored his first goal for the club, and of his senior career, at the Estadio de Luz in Thursday (7 March).
The free transfer arrival from Chelsea in the summer got off to a slow start in Glasgow under Michael Beale, but has gone from strength to strength since the managerial change and is already being tipped to make Rangers a “fortune” in the transfer market in future.
Having been signed as a nominal back up to James Tavernier at right-back he has since excelled in central midfield, and as other options were knocked out by injury he is now making his presence known as a wide attacker.
If the Gers are going to keep up their hunt for more trophies on three fronts then the 24-year-old looks set to be a key man, wherever he fits in, but while Fabio Silva and Cyriel Dessers may be looked to for goals at Easter Road in this knockout tie it feels like Sterling could be the ace in Clement’s line up.
Philippe Clement in hunt of more cup silverware at Rangers
Rangers have recorded some excellent results against Hibs this season, with Clement apparently unimpressed his players haven’t been recognised for, but that won’t make this game straight forward.
The Light Blues are still fighting down all avenues to add to the Viaplay Cup trophy win earlier this term, but the extensive responsibilities are clearly taking their toll as the never-ending fitness concerns at Ibrox continue to stack up.
There is no let up from here with the return Europa League leg against Benfica to come in midweek before the return to defending a narrow gap at the top of the SPFL.
The Gers boss is intent on maintaining momentum by pushing for success in all the available competitions, and dismissed suggestions from the club’s hierarchy to prioritise the league, which likely only increases the high regard the fanbase hold him in already.
So he has set his side out at Easter Road with the clear intention of reaching the semi-final rather than giving players a rest, although two men who would never have been in line to drop out whoever was available to come in, keeper Jack Butland and captain James Tavernier, will be expected to step up again.
In other Rangers news, a pair of Ibrox flops have been blasted as “howlers” amid delight at replacements arriving.
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