DANIEL AGGER is back in training with Liverpool and could make his long awaited return to the first team squad for the trip to Newcastle United in a fortnight's time.
The Danish international has been out of action for seven weeks since suffering a broken metatarsal but the injury has now healed and he is now building up his fitness at Melwood.
Agger's return to training is a huge boost for Rafa Benitez who has had only two centre backs with Premiership experience to call on since mid-September in the form of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
Rookie defender Jack Hobbs has made one appearance in the Carling Cup clash with Cardiff City during this period but at just 19 is still to make his Premiership debut.
So Agger's comeback has been given a cautious welcome by the Reds boss, who hopes he will shortly have three senior central defenders to pick from.
He said: “We don’t have a definite date in mind for Daniel just yet but it is looking very positive for him at the moment.
“If he continues to progress the way he has been then maybe he will be back in one or two weeks.
“The thing we have to keep an eye on is that the player can be fit, but that is not necessarily the same thing as being ready for a match.
“If he can run this week without any problems then maybe he can be involved in games soon.”
Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager has welcomed Harry Kewell's return to form of fitness, describing his comeback as "like having a very good new player".
But Benitez reacted to Kewell's selection for the Australian national squad after just three substitute appearances with caution and is calling on the Aussie football federation to take no risks with hisplayer.
He said: "Harry is a player who can score goals, beat players and is good in the air, as we saw against Blackburn when he set up that late chance for Dirk Kuyt.
"It is always good to see players coming back and in the last week we have seen Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio and Kewell all do that.
"Harry being back is like having a very good new player.
“Maybe it is good that he will go with the national team but I would like to see the player training with a proper programme so we need to talk to the Australian federation to see if we can maintain the progression of the player.”
The Danish international has been out of action for seven weeks since suffering a broken metatarsal but the injury has now healed and he is now building up his fitness at Melwood.
Agger's return to training is a huge boost for Rafa Benitez who has had only two centre backs with Premiership experience to call on since mid-September in the form of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
Rookie defender Jack Hobbs has made one appearance in the Carling Cup clash with Cardiff City during this period but at just 19 is still to make his Premiership debut.
So Agger's comeback has been given a cautious welcome by the Reds boss, who hopes he will shortly have three senior central defenders to pick from.
He said: “We don’t have a definite date in mind for Daniel just yet but it is looking very positive for him at the moment.
“If he continues to progress the way he has been then maybe he will be back in one or two weeks.
“The thing we have to keep an eye on is that the player can be fit, but that is not necessarily the same thing as being ready for a match.
“If he can run this week without any problems then maybe he can be involved in games soon.”
Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager has welcomed Harry Kewell's return to form of fitness, describing his comeback as "like having a very good new player".
But Benitez reacted to Kewell's selection for the Australian national squad after just three substitute appearances with caution and is calling on the Aussie football federation to take no risks with hisplayer.
He said: "Harry is a player who can score goals, beat players and is good in the air, as we saw against Blackburn when he set up that late chance for Dirk Kuyt.
"It is always good to see players coming back and in the last week we have seen Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio and Kewell all do that.
"Harry being back is like having a very good new player.
“Maybe it is good that he will go with the national team but I would like to see the player training with a proper programme so we need to talk to the Australian federation to see if we can maintain the progression of the player.”
Good news for us, bad for Newcastle.....
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