Ibrox View: Rangers star gives Danny Rohl selection headache after latest in win v Dundee United

Dujon Sterling boosted his chances of being Rangers’ long-term number one right-back with his performance against Dundee United.

The Englishman has had to be patient for his minutes this season, competing with James Tavernier and recovering from surgery on an Achilles tendon issue.

Tavernier is a quality player, so usurping the Gers captain was always going to prove difficult.

Over the international break, the 34-year-old picked up an injury setback, meaning he was only ready for an appearance off the bench. In this instance, Sterling was called upon.

With his display in Rangers’ 4-2 win versus Dundee United, he certainly did not harm his chances of further opportunities to start.

How Dujon Sterling boosted his positioning in Rangers’ pecking order

Danny Rohl was given a tough dilemma before facing the Tangerines, with his two preferred fullbacks picking up injuries.

Tuur Rommens will miss Rangers’ next game too, but Tavernier was already able to be part of the squad on Saturday.

If the Gers are going to win the Scottish Premiership, their depth in quality could play a defining role.

Sterling’s season has been marred by injury, missing 36 games in all competitions due to it, and without that setback, who knows where he would stand in Rohl’s plans?

The defender’s game against Dundee United was only his 10th appearance in the league and just his eighth start. However, he did not look rusty at all.

Sterling featured for 87 minutes, even notching his first goal of the season in what was a rare start for the Englishman.

Additionally, he was lively going forward, putting some excellent crosses into the box throughout the game for the Bears, while being his usual physically dominant self.

Dujon Sterling must put injury worries behind him

Sterling’s injury woes will no doubt frustrate the defender himself, but he will have to put those previous worries behind him.

In this campaign, the 26-year-old has only been available and in the squad on 16 occasions. It is far from the availability required for a player to have an impact on their side.

However, Sterling has proved that he is more than capable of playing at this level, and at just 26 years old, he may yet have a big future at Ibrox, particularly with Tavernier’s contract expiring within months.

On the other side, manager Rohl must also be careful with Sterling and ensure he is not overloaded with minutes, resulting in another injury setback.

However, when he does play, he showcases that he can be important, and despite his limited availability, he may yet play a crucial role this season.

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