Where does Dujon Sterling fit into Michael Beale’s plans? It's a question that's lingered on all summer. 

The versatile defender can fulfil a variety of roles, but he made it abundantly clear where he prefers to play during his first press conference, specifically declaring "I'm not a centre-back".

Rangers’ acquisition of the 23-year-old is viewed as a major coup given his reputation and rival interest from English Premier League clubs. Conversations with Michael Beale and close friend Calvin Bassey were instrumental in Sterling’s decision to move to Glasgow.

Can Ibrox provide a platform for Sterling to fulfil the talent that earned him such a glowing reputation in Chelsea's youth academy?

Few people in football know the Englishman better than Adrian Viveash, the highly-regarded coach who led Chelsea to unprecedented success in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth Leagues. Viveash has no doubts over Sterling’s ability and he believes Beale can unlock the "undoubted potential" he's witnessed for years.

“Rangers have got a very, very good player on their hands with the best years of his career ahead of him,” Viveash told the Rangers Review last month.

“I think the fans will be quite excited by him because he’s still not reached his potential. He’s represented his country at all levels but I think there is still something in there and Mick [Beale] will have knowledge of that as they had a good affiliation.

“There’s undoubted potential with Dujon and it’s now about unlocking that. He can play in a lot of positions but he’s very, very good at right wing-back. He can play extremely well at right centre-back in a three because he’s good at bringing the ball out well.

READ MORE: Inside Dujon Sterling's inspiring rise from Chelsea to Glasgow

“He glides across the ground and he can transfer the ball if you want to play a passing system. He can also play left back, right back and even centre-midfield.” 

Sterling’s best position is on the right side of defence, at either full-back or wing-back. While Beale has toyed with the idea of playing with three centre-backs and wing-backs, the Rangers boss is expected to deploy his preferred 4-3-1-2 this season.

That provides a conundrum over where Sterling will play. At right-back, there's the small matter of James Tavernier, the side's most consistent performer in recent years with a consistently outstanding attacking contribution. 

Sterling, however, has joined Rangers to play regularly. Those intentions were prominent during early discussions with Beale and the new arrival does not lack confidence. 

On competing with Tavernier, he said: “It’s about competing together but I’m not just tied down to one role. I can play many roles in this team so I don’t fear Tav being the captain at right-back. It’s about competition and we need competition in every area of the pitch. 

“That’s how everyone gets better and nobody slips off. You need that for the whole season and there’s more than one game every week.” 

While Tavernier’s attacking ability is renowned, his defensive acumen has been criticised over the years. Whereas, it's an area of the game where Sterling's at his best.

“I like to prioritise my defending,” Sterling added. “A lot of defenders now get judged on their stats and what they do up the pitch but defensively, they’re not great. 

“I like to make sure I do my defending, win my one-on-one battles and then go forward to express myself - knowing my teammates and defenders have trusted me to defend.” 

Some perceived his comments as a dig towards Tavernier but that’s simply inaccurate - he spoke glowingly about the captain. Nonetheless, right-backs with different strengths provide Beale with variation. 

What's more, Sterling’s capability to play left-back shouldn’t be overlooked, especially with the uncertainty over the position. It's a topic my colleague Joshua Barrie has covered in greater detail previously. Borna Barisic’s future could lie away from Ibrox with just one year left on his deal and Ridvan Yilmaz now first choice. The Turkish international showed promise towards the end of last season, but that was in an unpressurised environment and now is his chance to truly kick on. 

Beale is a huge admirer of Sterling having worked closely with him as a youngster in Chelsea’s academy. While the defender missed the pre-season trip to Germany with a slight calf injury, his manager was quick to praise a player who'll soon be ready for selection, saying: “He worked extremely well over the summer. He came back looking powerful, strong and one of the fittest in the group."

Sterling’s athleticism and physical attributes are on a higher level than the other full-backs at the club. He may be perceived as back-up on the outside, but the reality could prove very different.