Credit: Imago

James Barker

Fri 15 May 2026 8:10, UK

Dujon Sterling is not a viable James Tavernier successor for Rangers, as he doesn’t bring the same traits to the table.

Rangers are having to plan for life without Tavernier commanding their right-back position for 2026-27 and beyond, as the veteran defender braces to hit the free agent market.

He was supposed to get his more than deserved Ibrox send-off against Hibernian too, but seemingly down to a decision made by Danny Rohl, that wasn’t afforded to him.

Now 34, Tavernier has been an immense player for Gers since he moved to Glasgow in the summer of 2015, with his consistency and production simply remarkable over the last 11 years.

So, with just one game to go before the end of the 2025-26 campaign, is Sterling ready to succeed the Rangers legend moving forward?

Why Dujon Sterling isn’t James Tavernier’s Rangers successor

Sterling’s viability as a Rangers starter has been questioned in recent times, with both his inconsistent performances and injury history calling that into some doubt.

However, the 26-year-old has had his moments in royal blue, and there is certainly a solid player in there at Scottish Premiership level.

As such, in any normal situation of a player leaving who was ahead of him in the pecking order, Sterling would be a strong candidate to ascend to the number one role for Rangers at the right-back position.

Unfortunately for the Englishman, however, this is no ordinary player that needs replacing, with Tavernier’s attacking profile not matched with Sterling’s.

As per FotMob, Tavernier has taken 1.79 shots per game in the Scottish Premiership this season, whilst also playing 3.43 accurate long balls, creating 2.63 chances and playing 2.63 successful crosser per 90 too.

Meanwhile, Sterling has registered an average of just 0.38 shots per game, has played 1.15 accurate long balls, created 0.48 chances and 0.58 successful crosser per 90 respectively.

Rangers need to sign an attacking right-back this summer

Again, in an ordinary situation, losing one profile of a player and replacing them with someone who brings a different skillset to the position isn’t the end of the world, and can even elicit improved play there.

But in the case of Rangers and Tavernier, shifting to a more defensive-minded right-back like Sterling to succeed him appears highly unlikely.

Tavernier’s game was integral to Rangers’ attacking formula, with his sheer volume of forward actions such as shots, crosses and chances created being integral to Gers’ gameplans.

Therefore, whilst it will be a nigh on impossible task to replace Tavernier’s production, Rangers will surely, at the very least, want a similar profile of right-back to take over from him to ensure some attacking continuity down that flank.

Sterling isn’t that type of player, as proven against Hibernian last time out, where he failed to deliver any of his six crosses accurately, played only two accurate long balls and created just the one chance respectively.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.