Agger returns to 'start again'

Defender delighted to be back after metatarsal injury

By Laura Slatcher   Last updated: 13th July 2008

Liverpool s Daniel Agger

Agger: Injury comeback

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Liverpool defender Daniel Agger believes he has got to start his Reds career all over again after almost 10 months of injury anguish.

The 23-year-old played his first senior game in Liverpool's 1-0 friendly win at Tranmere on Saturday after picking up a metatarsal injury last September.

Agger, who cost Liverpool £5.8million from Brondby in January 2006, will continue to work his way back to full match fitness at the club's Swiss training camp.

Liverpool will hope to build on their Prenton Park win with games against Lucerne, Wisla Krakow and Hertha Berlin over the next fortnight, and Agger is glad to be back in the manager's plans.

Frustrating

"I am delighted to be back, this has been the most frustrating time of my career, I have just had to look forward, concentrate, and work hard to get myself back to fitness," he said.

"This season ahead is now all-important to me. I have missed so much football over the past year that I feel I am almost starting my career at Liverpool all over again.

"Now I am really focused on this season, I am ready. I have been working hard right through the summer to get myself fit for this level of football.

"It has been important to get myself ready so I can be available for the first day of the season."

Competition in defence

Now the Dane hopes to re-establish himself in the Anfield defence and welcomes the competition from Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia for a place alongside Jamie Carragher.

"The competition here now in central defence, as anywhere else in the side, is really tough so I must be at my best form and fitness," added Agger.

"It has been frustrating. But I have been focused on getting back as soon as possible. I have missed a lot, but there is such a lot more to come for me here.

"I will fight for my place and I am sure that the other centre-halves here will do just the same."