Why Kris Boyd is confident about Dujon Sterling after Rangers win vs Celtic

Kris Boyd has high hopes for Dujon Sterling after Rangers beat Celtic on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Englishman has been a key player under Derek McInnes at the start of the season and was once again influential in the 1-0 Old Firm derby win at Parkhead on 20 September.

In recent seasons, injuries have taken a toll on the right-back at the Gers, but he has already made 11 appearances for them in the current campaign.

Sterling has been given more defensive responsibilities under McInnes and that has been evident in the last two games against Celtic.

The right-back tucked in to form a back three on occasions with Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya in the last two matches.

With the Scottish manager's tactical tweak in defence, the Govan side have improved enormously in recent weeks.

Why Rangers fans could see best version of Dujon Sterling this season

Sterling was one of the standouts against Celtic at Parkhead and the Gers are finally seeing what he's truly capable of.

Fans in G51 have been expecting the English defender to break into the starting lineup for several seasons now, but persistent fitness issues have made life difficult for him.

Boyd feels that now that the Light Blues aren't playing in Europe and don't have many midweek fixtures to focus on, it could bring out the best in Sterling.

Alongside Fernandez and Makhanya, the former Chelsea full-back is forming a formidable partnership at the Govan side.

Speaking on Go Ballistic on 21 September, Boyd said: "Dujon Sterling, keep him fit. And there's another one who, because it's Saturday to Saturday, you might see the best of.

"Those three; pace, aggression, really really physical players as well. Rangers look solid defensively."

How Derek McInnes has found balance at Ibrox

McInnes has returned to playing two strikers up top and Ryan Naderi's form has warranted that at Rangers.

For a few weeks, it looked like the Scottish manager would turn to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Minsu Kim in the number 10 position, but the Germany-born striker has provided the work rate up top to change his plans.

With Naderi tracking back and James Penrice playing as an inverted full-back, the Gers made sure they weren't overrun by Celtic in the middle of the park.

Tucking Sterling into the backline also gives the Govan side better defensive cover.

McInnes may have found a winning formula in G51, but it remains to be seen whether he'll change his approach for games that don't involve Celtic.