Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has ruled out the possibility of bringing Henrik Larsson back to the club.

The Parkhead legend's contract will expire at Barcelona in the summer and fans were dreaming of a sensational return.

But after speaking to the striker's close friends at Celtic, Strachan believed he would be wasting his time trying to persuade the player.

Even if Larsson wanted to rejoin the Hoops, the Scot believes the Swede should never take a chance of harming his memory of the club.

Strachan told Setanta Sport: "Henrik has got lots of friends at Celtic Park.  From speaking to them, he has made his mind up, and he is going home to Sweden now and it might be with his local team Helsingborgs.

"I am sure you realise what an incredible player he was. He would have made any team in the world a better side. It has been a body blow missing him. We have had some great players like Chris Sutton and John Hartson.

"But if you look at Larsson's record, if he didn't score one week he was guaranteed to score next week. His record was absolutely phenomenal, not just as a goalscorer but as as player.

"The team has took some time to get used to him leaving and if we could have got Henrik Larsson back last season it would be fantastic. But he's made up his mind that he doesn't want to come and I honestly believe once you have been as successful as him, leave it.

"He had great memories and he was truly phenomenal. It's just like I have great memories of some Hibs players. Just leave those memories there and don't damage them"

Strachan also revealed he is not in the market for Hibernian starlet Derek Riordan - because of Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady.  Rangers missed out on the Scotland international striker in the transfer window but the former Aberdeen legend claims signing the player would "cramp" the progress of his youngsters.