We’re not quite sure what on earth has happened to Dujon Sterling with Rangers’ first choice right back experiencing a lull in form ever since he returned from the international break and Kosta Nedeljkovic will be monitoring it.

Naturally, Ibrox Noise and many others have widely praised the unsung hero of the Rangers team. But we’ve always had that niggling doubt here at Ibrox Noise Towers that the boy is a right back.

He’s been great, Sterling even, in that position for the bulk of the season. But since the end of the international break, he has not shown the same level of robustness as before he left.

Sterling’s Form Has Taken a Dip

There was, of course, his removal at half time against Dundee due to tonsillitis. We were not informed at the time what the reason was. But the reality was that Rangers’ performance dipped and Sterling has not returned to his previous form since being hooked.

Whether that illness caused him to be entirely disrupted, we cannot know. But he has not been quite the same.

His tackling is a bit off time. His positioning is not as solid and he’s making quite a few errors.

Of course, every player makes mistakes. Every player has a lull in form. This is nothing new and we’re not going to slaughter the boy.

Nedeljković Could Get His Chance

But it does open up the possibilities for Kosta Nedeljkovic to take over from Dujon Sterling.

Players should not play just because of who they are or their reputation. If they hit a dip in form, they should be dropped.

This is not us immediately jumping on Sterling and saying he should be dropped. But we have definitely noticed a lack of form on his part. Most fans have too.

He’s a player we like a lot. We have rated him highly and have discussed getting his contract extended. Indeed, he mentioned that at a recent press conference.

But his displays over the past three or four matches have definitely not hit the heights of the start of the season.

Is Right Back Really His Best Position?

As we have said before, primarily the boy is a defensive midfielder. But he’s not going to play there for Rangers under Derek McInnes or indeed any other manager.

He briefly played there under Philippe Clement. But overall, he barely ever plays in that position, even although it’s his strongest suit.

He will always be used as a right back, no matter what his best position actually is.

And he had been in great form this season until that two and a half week absence from club football.

Rangers Need Sterling Back at His Best

We do hope he gets his form back because we know how solid he is when he’s at his best.

But right now, unfortunately, he isn’t.