The Rangers defender had been sidelined since April after suffering an unusual Achilles injury during a European tie against Athletic Club, with former interim boss Billy Dodds revealing the setback occurred when he stood on a sprinkler.
Although Sterling had returned to full training in recent weeks, Danny Rohl opted to manage his comeback carefully due to the severity and length of the injury. The Englishman made his long-awaited return as a substitute against Ferencváros last week before earning a starting role in last night’s victory over Hibs.
Sterling made an immediate impact, producing a crucial goal-line clearance and playing a part in the decisive goal. Asked about his influence, Rohl admitted he was delighted with the performance, while also revealing the defender had grown frustrated during the cautious recovery process.
Rohl explained that Sterling had been eager to return earlier but acknowledged after his first minutes back on Thursday just how demanding the layoff had been, particularly in terms of match fitness. The head coach said the decision to start him against Hibs came after weighing up whether to reintroduce him from the bench again, ultimately trusting his defensive instincts and reading of danger.
The Rangers boss highlighted Sterling’s interceptions and positional awareness as key reasons behind switching to a back five, adding an extra body to deal with runners and channel balls. While that setup sacrificed some high pressing further up the pitch, Rohl felt the trade-off was necessary on the night.
Although he acknowledged there is still room for improvement — particularly in possession and attacking fluidity — Rohl stressed his satisfaction with the team’s effort, defensive solidity and ability to keep clean sheets while finding the winning goal.
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