James Tavernier looks done at Rangers after what happened at Celtic Park
Dujon Sterling’s fantastic performance in Rangers’ 3-1 win over Celtic on Saturday could spell trouble for James Tavernier’s future.
Since moving to Ibrox from Bristol City in 2015, Tavernier has made 542 appearances for Rangers and will undoubtedly go down as one of the all-time greats in the club’s history.
However, at the age of 34, his minutes are becoming less frequent under Danny Rohl, and Sterling is benefitting as a result.
Although Tavernier is Rangers’ top scorer in the Scottish Premiership, he was dropped for the biggest game of the season.
Rangers’ win over Celtic saw Youssef Chermiti steal the headlines, but Sterling’s assured performance will leave Tavernier worried on the bench.
Dujon Sterling excels vs Celtic’s Daizen Maeda
Sterling had been out for six months after rupturing a tendon in his Achilles, but after such a long time out, he has returned to the team in fine form.
The full-back has made five appearances in the last month, and was fantastic in both boxes against the Hoops.
Up against the speedy Daizen Maeda, Sterling hardly gave him a sniff in front of goal, and handled his threat with ease throughout the match, as highlighted by the Sofascore data below.
| Stat | Sterling |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Pass accuracy | 71% |
| Passes into final third | 5 |
| Clearances | 5 |
| Recoveries | 5 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
In the first half, Rangers clearly missed Tavernier’s threat from set-pieces, and Rohl may have been tempted to bring him on at the break.
However, he stuck with his guns, and Sterling remained solid as the Bears mounted an extraordinary comeback.
Sterling mocked Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy after the match, and no one will be more pleased than him to start the year with a win after the turbulence he endured in 2025.
As for Tavernier, he looks set to play a different role in the team, with his leadership off the pitch now being called into action.
James Tavernier’s professionalism will be key to Rangers’ title charge
Rohl is doing a fantastic job for Rangers, and few can argue with his team selection since he walked through the door.
The Bears are level on points with Celtic and six points behind Hearts, with fans confident that they are firmly in the title race.
With three wins in their last four matches, Rangers are full of confidence, and Tavernier is looking to captain the team to a first Scottish Premiership win since 2020-21.
There’s no doubt he will have a big say in the second half of the campaign, but his responsibilities are likely to be limited.
Rangers had been criticised for a lack of professionalism under Russell Martin at the start of the campaign, but they have dramatically improved during the Rohl era.
Tavernier may have to captain the side from the bench, and with Sterling in top form for the Light Blues, the Ibrox legend certainly have to lead by example in what could be his last season.
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