Clement must make big Rangers decision on Dujon Sterling | OneFootball

A few things emerged from Thursday’s win over FCSB, and while we’ve covered one or two, one thing we’ve not touched on is the performance, aside our rating, of Nico Raskin alongside Connor Barron.

The Belgian has not had a lot of starts under Philippe Clement, and suffered a notable lull of form last season, amid his nonsense interviews about aiming to play for Chelsea, while misguidedly calling Rangers ‘just a step’ in his career.

He’s been on the outside since then, but Thursday’s start alongside the ex-Aberdeen man was a strong display from both, proving without a doubt that Barron cannot shine next to Mohamed Diomande, and requires help in there.

Raskin was definitely that help, and both shone.

But it leaves a problem – what on earth has happened with Dujon Sterling?

Ibrox Noise looked at this recently, the midfielder signing a new deal and hardly featuring since it – he hasn’t started a single match indeed, despite Clement’s blurb about wanting to build the team around him.

It’s a dichotomy – Rangers fans have been hankering for him to play more, with some eager for him at right back and others wanting him in the middle.

But when Raskin comes from nowhere and compliments Barron well, it creates a potential ‘twist’, and the clamour for Sterling reduces.

Is Raskin and Barron Rangers’ best midfield pairing? Then what of Sterling, because he is never going to get James Tavernier’s RB slot.

It’s a curious one – Sterling signed a big new deal, he’s contracted for about 4 years, and since penning it he’s barely featured.

For the record, his best position is defensive midfield, it’s the slot he was raised in as youth at Chelsea, and his disappearance from football was largely down to loans using him at RB.

And at Rangers he’s been at his best in that position – but it’s becoming clear Clement doesn’t want him there.

So what now? Raskin and Barron? Dio? Sterling?

One thing is for sure, Barron is at his best when he has help, and that help doesn’t come in the form of Diomande.

As for who partners him, beats us.