Sterling Likely to Miss Falkirk Trip as Rangers New Signings Await Opportunity
Dujon Sterling has been tipped to miss Rangers’ visit to Falkirk, with former Ibrox forward Greg Stewart predicting the defender will be left out on the artificial surface.
Rangers head into the tie with a revamped squad and a manager spoiled for choice. A busy summer has handed Derek McInnes genuine competition across the pitch, and this cup assignment could sharpen that battle even further.
Two of the players eyeing their moment are Ross McCrorie and Kosta Nedeljkovic. Both arrived in the summer. Both need minutes. Falkirk away, on plastic, might be where one of them plants a flag.
Stewart questions Sterling’s suitability for Falkirk surface
Speaking on the 5 Stars Podcast alongside Ian Durrant, Stewart homed in on the Falkirk pitch as a key factor in McInnes’ selection.
“Astro turf as well, it always comes into play. So, it'll be interesting to see how the new boys, that are not used to it, take to it,” Stewart said. “I don't think Sterling will play well because of that.”
That single line throws a spotlight on McInnes’ back line. If Sterling does sit this one out, Rangers have alternatives who will be desperate to seize the opening and turn it into something more permanent.
McCrorie and Nedeljkovic sense an opening
Sterling’s possible absence would swing the door open for one of the summer recruits to make a stronger case for regular starts.
McCrorie, back at Ibrox after a previous spell away from the club, brings Premiership know-how and the kind of versatility managers lean on over a long season. His return hasn’t caught fire yet; his minutes so far have been limited and underwhelming. A start at Falkirk offers a chance to reset that narrative.
Nedeljkovic, on loan from Aston Villa, adds another dimension to McInnes’ defensive options. Still bedding in, still learning the demands at Rangers, he represents a different profile and a fresh set of legs for a manager still shaping his preferred combinations.
One game on an awkward surface won’t define their Rangers careers. But it can change the pecking order in a hurry.
Durrant backs continuity after strong display
While Stewart looks at who might come in, Durrant expects McInnes to keep faith with the core of the side that impressed last time out.
“I don't think he'll tinker too much, I think. After that result and how well they played, and how well they battled,” he said.
“They all like to play a brand of football, which I think will suit Rangers. They always like to be on the front foot, they knock it about.
“I'm sure Rangers now, if they're on their A game, they can pick them off.”
The message is clear: tweak, don’t tear up. McInnes has depth now, but he also has a team that has shown it can dominate when it hits its stride.
Falkirk’s plastic pitch adds a twist
The pitch remains the wild card. Falkirk still play on an artificial surface, having been granted a grace period to replace it after winning promotion to the Premiership the season before last.
They stand alone in the top flight with an astro pitch, after Kilmarnock’s return to grass and Livingston’s relegation. That uniqueness forces every visiting manager to think twice about selection, workload and risk.
For Rangers, it could be the perfect proving ground. If Stewart’s prediction on Sterling is right, this becomes more than just another early-season tie. It becomes a test of who among McCrorie and Nedeljkovic can turn an awkward away day into a launchpad for a bigger role in McInnes’ rebuild.
