Philippe Clement backed to make Dujon Sterling call for Rangers showdown v Malmo
Chris Jack has backed Philippe Clement to start Dujon Sterling at left-back for the Europa League clash between Rangers and Malmo.
Clement’s Light Blues make the trip to Sweden on Thursday (24 September) for the first match of the new-look European group stage but will be without Jefte who is set to serve a European suspension.
The Brazilian picked up a red card in the Gers’ Champions League qualifying clash with Dynamo Kyiv and Rangers Review journalist Jack expects Sterling to be deployed out of position in the left-back’s absence.
Speaking on The Rangers Review YouTube channel (24 September, 17:10) he said: “I think he [Clement] will go as strong as he possibly can.
“Left-back is clearly an issue, I think Dujon Sterling plays in that area. Jefte is going a long, long way to making that position his own. He has been really impressive the last couple of weeks.
“I doubt if you’d said to people when he first came in that he would be a real miss heading into our first European league stage game, people would have thought probably not, I don’t see it.
“I think Sterling comes in there, apart from that I think [Mohamed] Diomande comes back in.”
What happened to Dujon Sterling at Rangers and Ibrox?
With Ridvan Yilmaz still sidelined, Clement isn’t exactly blessed with loads of defensive depth at this moment in time, particularly at left-back which has proven to be a problem area at Ibrox over the last few years.
Although Sterling was nowhere near his best against Dundee last time out, the Englishman has shown during his time in Glasgow that he can have a major impact on games even when he is played out of position.
There are few players in Clement’s squad more versatile than the former Chelsea man. He isn’t the ideal fit to start at left-back on the European stage, but supporters can at least rest easy knowing he will give his all.
Hopefully, the Light Blues will extend their winning run in all competitions to three matches in Sweden on Thursday night. A winning start in Europe would be a massive confidence booster for both Clement and his squad.
In other Rangers news, Gordon Duncan has sarcastically called for the Gers’ cup clash with Motherwell to be moved from Hampden Park
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