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Oct 7 2008 By Tony Barrett

DANIEL AGGER is hopeful that Martin Skrtel’s injury will give him the chance to return to Liverpool’s first team – even though the Dane admits he is gutted at the way his opportunity has come about.

Skrtel was today waiting to find out how long he will be out of action for, after a scan confirmed he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Man City.

The Slovakian international was today meeting with a specialist to determine whether or not he will require surgery.

Skrtel’s misfortune is likely to open the door to a first team recall for Agger, who has been consigned to the bench for much of this season.

But the Dane insists his first thoughts are for his injured room-mate.

He said: “I know Martin Skrtel really well – not only is he my team-mate, he is also my room-mate.

“He has been playing regularly for the past year and I would never want something like this to happen to anyone who I am so close to.

“I feel really bad for Martin that this has happened but of course I also have to be single minded on this occasion, even if it is with such a sad background.

“With Martin out I hope I will now get my chance to get some playing time.

“I feel that I have been as close to being in the starting line up as I can be lately, even before the injury to Martin and I feel that I have the quality to be in there with the rest of the lads.

“I have had to be patient this season and wait for my chance though. I know how things are.

“The team have been playing really well and the results have been great, so I couldn’t really expect the manager to make too many changes.

“The only thing for me to do was get my head down and concentrate on getting as fit as possible, so that if an opportunity came along, I was ready to take it.”

Agger has been remaining behind at Melwood after training to take part in extra sessions in a bid to improve his fitness after spending most of last season on the sidelines with a metatarsal injury.

And he now feels he is ready to make his long-awaited return to first team action.

He said: “When you have been out injured for 10 months, you know you are going to have to work really hard to get back into shape.

“That’s why I have been putting extra sessions in at Melwood this season. I have been out there on the training pitch when the other lads have finished, because you never know when the call might come.

“It has been worth the extra effort, too, because I feel really fit and strong and ready to step in.”

Meanwhile, the Danish international has dismissed speculation suggesting he had fallen out with Rafa Benitez, insisting he and the Reds boss both found such rumours so funny they reduced them to laughter.

He added: “The stories about a rift between Rafa and myself have been so far away from the truth that me and Rafa have been laughing out loud about them.

“I am happy at the club and I am happy at the town.”

[taff]

We were all raving about him and waiting for his return.  I just hope that he slots straight back in.  At the end of the day I see Agger and Skrtel as the long term future although Carra will fight for his place with a passion, but he is not the future of the defence.

The only positive I see from this is Agger will get the experience and leadership of Carra for the rest of the season.

The concern has to be the CL with Sami unregistered although its very unlucky to lose two first team CB's although I can almost guarantee that one of them will have a minor injury a week before a big game against some wily forwards from the continent

[Fowler_E7]

Personally i think this injury could be a blessing in disguise for the team as i think Agger is a much better player than Skrtel, who i dont really reate to beh honest. With Sammi as back up we should cope fine without him

[skatesy]

Daniel Agger just scored for Denmark in their World Cup QUalifier against Malta.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Agger takes penalties for Denmark?

[Toffeehater]

, There's something you don't see everyday . Who knew he could take free kicks and now penalties , he's scored more freekicks than aurelio who's a "specialist" . Relishing to see him in action next week , agger i mean

[Number 9]

Best player in the world!!

[Sabre]

Time to step up, im sure he`ll do well and remind us what a great player he is.

I agree... I also have a lot of trust in this guy. Having a guy in the CB that's able of running with it and also passing it well are rare to find in the CB these days.

International CB tend to be veteran for a reason, it's experience. Agger is more capable than Spanish internationals for instance technically. He's better than Juanito, Marchena and Puyol.

He lacks experience compared to them, knowing to make a foul when it's necessary, knowing to abort a counter without getting a card, playing on the limit -- Cannavaro is great at this art.

I think this is a good player to place trust, as experience and hard work can make him much better than he already is.

[RedBlood]

great player with massive potential, him and skrtel can be an unbelievable partnership for years to come, cant believe anyone doubts agger to be honest he is one of the best ball playing centre backs i have ever seen and i think some people use that as a stick to take away how good he is at defending
him and skrtel are both like 24?? i think, they seem like the perfect partnership to me they even both love tattoos and i reckon you could rely on them to get 10 goals a season between them

welcome back agger and get well soon skrtel

[JamCar05]

Agger takes penalties for Denmark?

He's not normally the penalty taker, but on this occasion he was, and he made it look absolutely easy just rolling it into the bottom left corner with the goalie stranded in the opposite side. Incidentally it was he himself who earned the penalty, as he was pulled down at a corner when going for the header.

Looking forward to seeing him back in the red shirt against Wigan, though of course I wish it wouldn't have been under those circumstances (Skrtel's injury).

[Cool Hand Luke]

Agger in contract plea – Dane wants Reds future sorted – 30th December 2008

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is hoping the club can sort out his contract to extend his stay at Anfield.

The Danish defender is in talks over a new deal with his current contract having 18 months left to run.

Reports emanating from Italy claim AC Milan are waiting in the wings to sign Agger if contract talks with Liverpool continue to stall.

The 24-year-old, who is now back in the side after a lengthy injury, insists he would like to remain at Liverpool and has called on the club to resolve the issue.

Hold-up
Asked if he will stay at Liverpool, Agger told the Daily Post: "I hope so. I don't know what the hold-up is. I let the club do the talking and I will try and do mine on the pitch.

"I am trying to improve. I feel it is getting better and better in every game. I am feeling more comfortable and trying to improve in every game.

"Of course I want to stay if it is possible.

"As I say, the club is dealing with my contract talks and we will take it from there."

[GYBS]

get that contract sorted and signed sharpish . Really rate the guy .

[Ciggy]

Agger in contract plea – Dane wants Reds future sorted – 30th December 2008

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is hoping the club can sort out his contract to extend his stay at Anfield.

The Danish defender is in talks over a new deal with his current contract having 18 months left to run.

Reports emanating from Italy claim AC Milan are waiting in the wings to sign Agger if contract talks with Liverpool continue to stall.

The 24-year-old, who is now back in the side after a lengthy injury, insists he would like to remain at Liverpool and has called on the club to resolve the issue.

Hold-up
Asked if he will stay at Liverpool, Agger told the Daily Post: "I hope so. I don't know what the hold-up is. I let the club do the talking and I will try and do mine on the pitch.

"I am trying to improve. I feel it is getting better and better in every game. I am feeling more comfortable and trying to improve in every game.

"Of course I want to stay if it is possible.

"As I say, the club is dealing with my contract talks and we will take it from there."

Whats goin on why hasnt this been sorted yet

I know the yanks are sellin so maybe thats the hold up.

Rafa has a dilema also now with all four CB fit.

And Sammi has been playing really well.

[tubby]

Hyypia isnt going to play beyond this season so surley getting Agger signed up to a new contract should be a priority?

[milou]

I can't put my finger on it.. but I have a funny feeling that somehow Rafa stopped rating Agger anymore, during or after his injury. Is it only me or does anyone else have this hunch too?

This is something about Rafa that I can't really grasp (on top of many "mysterious" decisions he made of cos! ). Having bought and stuck with certain players, sometimes he "loses faith" in them without really obvious reasons (not to outsiders like us anyway) and often pretty quickly. And when this happens, your liverpool career is as good as over.

IMHO.. Many of these players actually did ok to well before they are suddenly being "shelved" and "shipped out"... crouch is the obvious one & bellamy, cisse, pennant all belong to the same category.

It is still too early to tell but I am a little worried for Agger TBH. Now that Skytel is back, we will see how it pans out for Agger.

I rate him but Rafa is the boss.