BRENDAN RODGERS looks set to be left disappointed in his bid to sign Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan.

The Celtic manager is desperate to add some experience to his squad, particularly in the back four, and believed he could land the 23-year-old on a season-long loan deal.

Speaking after Saturday's friendly win over Wolfsburg, Rodgers admitted Flanagan was a player he “knew well” but that there was no update on the situation.

But Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is against allowing Flanagan to leave either on loan or a permanent deal.

Flanagan signed a new three-year contract at Anfield in March having fought back to fitness following 18 months out with a serious knee injury.

This would be a blow to Rodgers who does need to strengthen his defence over the next week.

Erik Sviatchenko will be fit for Wednesday’s vital match against Lincoln Red Imps, despite taking an elbow to his face at the weekend, but even with the Dane fine to play, Rodgers is struggling for defenders.

The only other senior centre-back fit and available is the woefully out of form Efe Ambrose, which means either Mikael Lustig could play in the centre of defence or teenager Kristoffer Ajer, who made his home debut on Saturday and won man of the match for his performance at the back, against the men from Gibraltar.

Rodgers hinted that the young Norwegian may be thrown into Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier.

He said “I thought he was nervy when he first came into Saturday’s game. He is a young player, only 18, and over the course of time could become a very good player.

"He can play in defence and midfielder. He is adjusting to the tempo and speed of everything.

“He has a lot of potential and I think once he settled into the game and did well.

“Every player is under consideration (for Wednesday). If I see enough in training and in the game, irrespective of age, the he will get a chance.

"He has played first-team football in Norway so it’s not as if he’s a player who hasn’t played games.

“He has experience of senior football and if it is the case that if I thought he could help them then sure.”

Rodgers was happy with the way both teams, different elevens started each half, performed in the 2-1 win against the German outfit.

Goals from Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie won the game and there were a few individual displays which would have pleased the manager.

Rodgers said: “It was a really good day. It was obviously a real honour and pleasure to walk out for our first home game, and to have the turnout we did, it was fantastic, and on top of that we had the players’ performance.

“We had a double training session on Friday, we worked them really hard and intensively, so to then go out and show so much physicality in the game, and how we pressed them, was good. It was another step up for us.

“We set out the two teams in either half differently. The players coped very well with it. There were real good moments in the first-half in terms of our pressing game and creating chances.

“We had seven real good chances in the first-half. We set up differently in the second-half, we minimised Wolfsburg to the minimum chances. I thought it was good.”

Rodgers tweaked his formation once again, he began with a 3-5-2, and revealed that is something he will continue to do over the campaign.

He said: “We played with a back four that morphs into a three at times. I am going to test you boys (the press) tactically over the season. I think for us it’s having flexibility.

“I thought, tactically, the players coped very well with what we gave them. It is to give them different possibilities within the game.

“If it is difficult sitting in the stand trying to work out what we are playing, the teams on the pitch, hopefully, will find it difficult. I thought they played it very well in terms of defensive and offensive organisation.”