The 23-year-old played his first senior match since last September in Liverpool's 1-0 friendly win at neighbours Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, as he battles to re-establish himself in the Anfield club's defence.

Agger cost £5.8million from Brondby in January 2006, and made a massive impact at Liverpool, successfully ousting veteran defender Sami Hyypia from the side to become Jamie Carragher's new defensive partner.

A serious metatarsal injury just a handful of matches into last season sidelined him - but the young Dane successfully completed 75 minutes at Prenton Park in his comeback.

working hard 

Liverpool fielded a side of youngsters and squad players in the match, with Yossi Benayoun's first-half strike enough for a comfortable victory.

Agger will continue to work his way back to full match fitness at Liverpool's Swiss training camp over the next fortnight with match time against Lucerne, Wisla Krakow and Hertha Berlin in seven days.

He said: "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. 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."