Source: SKY_Sports
Agger closing on full fitness
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Daniel Agger admits he is not yet firing on all cylinders but insists he is 'improving all the time'.[LNB] The Liverpool centre-half has been nursing a niggling back injury for some time and underwent surgery over the summer in an effort to rectify the problem.[LNB]He is, however, now back in Rafa Benitez's thoughts and is hoping to be involved in the Reds' UEFA Champions League clash with Lyon on Tuesday.[LNB]The 24-year-old has built up his fitness of late with two run-outs for Denmark in World Cup qualifying and a first Premier League outing of the campaign at Sunderland.[LNB]Liverpool have looked shaky at the back at times this season and Agger is hoping his return to the fold will help to shore things up.[LNB]"I am not 100 per cent yet, there is still a way to go," he said.[LNB]"I have had two games with Denmark and one with Liverpool now since my operation, and all three were hard.[LNB]"Mentally I am strong, but physically my body has a way to go yet before I am back to my best.[LNB]"I had been out for a long time, I missed all the pre-season, and that makes life very tough. I am not at my best but improving all the time.[LNB]Frustrating"You are always catching up with fitness when you are out a long time, and it has been the most frustrating thing to have to watch when you know you cannot play.[LNB]He added on the defensive dilemmas: "It is difficult to say what has changed, but as defenders we definitely need to work a lot harder, get the team spirit up and prove what we can do.[LNB]"We must stick together, then the luck and confidence will come back. Then games will start to go our way."[LNB]Agger has also lifted lid on the determined efforts he has put in over recent months in an effort to reach peak condition.[LNB]"It is always difficult when you are injured and on the sidelines for a long while, I found it hard. But I set myself a target date to return and I have worked hard to reach it," he said.[LNB]"I never had any doubts that the back problem would not be solved, everyone knew what was wrong.[LNB]"Now it takes time for me to get back to the levels of fitness and performance that I had beforehand. But I am working hard to achieve that, and the only way is to play games.[LNB]"I am doing extra training in the gym doing work to strengthen my back, that will help me return to my best quicker, to get the touch back.[LNB]"I am working hard in the gym now to strengthen and to avoid further injuries."[LNB]
