Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is not planning on instructing his defenders to bully his former player Raheem Sterling when Manchester City visits Celtic Park for the Champions League encounter on Wednesday night.

Sterling has been one of the star players under Pep Guardiola at City this season, and Rodgers believes that the 21-year-old can't be kept quiet simply by physical intimidation.

"You can't kick him - I saw that in training all the time at Liverpool," said Rodgers.

"When we first brought him into our training all the centre halves – Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger – tried to kick the life out of him. But very quickly they realised you can't.

"He was actually stronger than them. He has this incredible and unique power and strength.

"A lot of it is in his head – that's why I know he'll be all right in the end – but his actual physicality is immense for such a slight boy. He'll never get bullied in a game."