A STERLING EFFORT IN THE MIDDLE

DUJON STERLING used to watch in awe as Michael Essien lit up Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.

As a young full-back he would marvel at the Ghanaian star’s raw power and ability in midfield – not thinking for a second that one day HE would play in that position.

Yet when the Rangers ace goes home he now searches Youtube for Essien, along with some of the Premier League’s other all-time top midfielders.

Because new Ibrox gaffer Philippe Clement has somehow found what looks to be the perfect role for Sterling in Gers’ engine room.

He arrived as a full-back in the summer with the sole aim of claiming the jersey of club captain James Tavernier. Sterling was willing to bide his time before Clement deployed him in the middle of the park. And the 24-year-old hasn’t looked back since.

Last Sunday at Hampden he was voted Man of the Match against Aberdeen in the 1-0 Viaplay Cup Final triumph, which saw him collect the first trophy of his career.

Today against Motherwell he looks certain to start at the heart of Clement’s team.

And it will be the same against Ross County on Wednesday and in the big one against Celtic next weekend.

Englishman Sterling (above) admits: “I’ve started watching Youtube videos of midfielders to see what they do.

“I still need to learn it now and it will help if the manager ever needs to slot me back in there in the future. Hopefully I’ll be able to do the job.

“I watch the likes of Essien and Yaya Toure – they are the main ones.

“Essien (left) because he was at Chelsea when I was there.

“When the manager chucked me in against Dundee it was the first time I’d ever played there. I hadn’t even trained for it, not once.”