'He's a winner' – Michael Stewart says Rangers must start frequently-benched player now

Philippe Clement cannot afford to “play hardball” and leave Dujon Sterling out of his Rangers starting XI, Michael Stewart has said.

Speaking on The Scottish Football Social Club (4 November), Stewart said that while there appears to be a clear division between Clement and Sterling, the Gers boss cannot leave him out.

Sterling replaced James Tavernier during the Light Blues’ 2-1 win over Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals on 3 November, and Stewart said that his display warranted a starting place.

He said: “Rangers aren’t in the position where you can dismiss someone like that.

“Any time Sterling is on the park, he improves Rangers’ team – from the outside looking in, he’s someone you can rely on.

“I don’t think he ever lets the team down. He’s a winner, he tries his all, and he has quality.

“I don’t think Rangers are performing well enough with enough good characters to play hardball with Sterling. You’ve got to find a place in the team for him.”

Dujon Sterling has to become a regular starter at Rangers

Regardless of the interpersonal relationship, Sterling is undoubtedly a valuable member of Clement’s squad at Ibrox but is yet to nail down a permanent starting place this season.

Much of the 25-year-old’s value to the Belgian comes in the form of his versatility, but that has also counted against Sterling in his bid to become the first-choice pick in any one specific position.

Overrun while playing as a central midfielder at Parkhead in Celtic’s 3-0 rout over the Gers in August, Sterling has started just one game since, making 11 of his 15 appearances this season off the bench.

Given his display against Motherwell on 3 November though – especially when compared to Tavernier’s first hour on the pitch at Hampden – the right-back berth must be Sterling’s going forward.

The mood in camp at Auchenhowie needs to be a positive one in the wake of chaos in Glasgow, and winning games with Sterling starting regularly will help to ease the pressure on Clement.

In other Rangers news, the Bears have been an extra incentive to win the League Cup Final as a new Celtic statistic emerged.

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