Danny Rohl pleased to see Dujon Sterling return in Rangers’ Europa League defeat

Dujon Sterling’s return to action was one positive Rangers boss Danny Rohl took from his side’s 2-1 Europa League defeat by Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

Striker Bojan Miovski scored an acrobatic opener for the Gers in the 27th minute but Bence Otvos levelled for Robbie Keane’s side in the last minute of five added on at the end of the first half, when the Ibrox side dropped concentration.

Sterling was brought on for Max Aarons in the 58th minute to make first appearance since last April after recovering from an Achilles problem.

However, there was to be no happy return for the 26-year-old as Ferencvaros striker Barnabas Varga headed in from close range in the 73rd minute to leave the Light Blues with just one point from 18 in the league phase – four of the fixtures under the German coach who took over from Russell Martin in October.

Rangers are effectively out of the competition with two league-phase fixtures remaining and Rohl told Rangers TV of the importance of Sterling’s return ahead of “the next big game on Monday” against Hibernian.

He said: “Yeah, very important. I’m happy that he got 35 minutes. I think this is crucial for us to have him back. And, yeah, hopefully there’s no reaction.

“If everything goes well, then I saw in this 35 minutes a good Dujon, and he will help us a lot.”

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has won five out of seven domestic games for Rangers as he prepares for the visit of Hibs, looking to get back to winning ways.

He said: “We have to step up in the games ahead now. We know the schedule now, but we have also to learn from this game on Thursday.

“We cannot allow it, to bring opponents back in such a game.

“Controllers have a game management, be clinical, and then we can take more, more wins, and even on this (European) level.

“The last two games showed me that we are competitive, but to win games you have to do more and you have to be clinical. And if you do this, then you have a chance.

“If not, then you will not take so much in this competition.”