Friday, September 19, 2008

Agger Bides His Time

After missing close to a year of first-team action due to a metatarsal injury, Liverpool defender Daniel Agger insists he is ready to bide his time to break back into Rafa Benitez's starting XI.

Agger's appearances in a Liverpool shirt have been few and far between over the past year. Last September, the Dane damaged a metatarsal that was expected to keep him sidelined for around four months.

However, the 23-year-old suffered an injury set-back in January when he damaged a different bone on the same foot.

Since making his Liverpool return in July during a friendly against Tranmere Rovers, Agger has found it difficult to force his way back into Rafa Benitez's plans.

Despite a Champions League appearance against Standard Liege, Agger has largely played third and even fourth fiddle to Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia.

Indeed, Agger failed to be named among Liverpool's seven substitutes in their last league game at home to Manchester United.

Rumours in the press last week even suggested that he had considered the possibility of buying out the remainder of his Anfield contract via the controversial Webster ruling.

However, the centre-back is not too down-at-heart and is ready to work hard to ensure a first-team comeback.

With Sami Hyypia not named in the panel for the group stage of the Champions League, Agger may be afforded the opportunities to impress in that competition.

After watching from the bench on Tuesday night as his team-mates overcame Marseille, Agger told TV2: "I sat on the bench today so that is an improvement. All I can do at the moment to get into the team is to work hard in training."

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