Rah may prove a text pest

BRENDAN RODGERS is praying his constant pep talks to Raheem Sterling are not rammed down his throat on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The Celtic boss has revealed he texted messages of support to Sterling after his £49million move to Manchester City just over a year ago when he joined from Liverpool.

He struggled to live up to his hefty fee in his first season at The Etihad but Rodgers kept reminding him to show the doubters how good he really was.

Even at the start of this campaign, Rodgers urged him to be at his dynamic best – advice that may well come back to bite him in the Euro showpiece at Celtic Park this week.

Rodgers said: “We’ve been in contact. I sent him a message at the start of this season saying, ‘You’re a dynamic player – don’t forget. You better not perform against us though’.

“I didn’t know we were going to play them then. He drifted for a bit of time since he left Liverpool but he’s back to where he was at with me.”

STEVE MILLAR