SOCCER NEWS:LIVERPOOL MANAGER Kenny Dalglish will be forced into yet another reshuffle at the back this season after it was confirmed Daniel Agger had broken a rib. The Denmark international sustained the injury when he fell heavily in the first half of Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham and had to be substituted before half-time.
He could be out for up to four weeks, which would mean he would miss this Saturday’s visit of Wolves, derby against Everton and a home match against Manchester United.
With Martin Skrtel serving a one-match suspension for tonight’s League Cup tie at Brighton, new signing Sebastian Coates’ likely full debut could not be better timed, having been the Dane’s replacement at the weekend.
The loss of Agger should be offset by the return of captain Steven Gerrard, who has been sidelined for six months after a groin operation.
Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez will be back in training today, according to the Manchester United striker’s agent. The Mexican was injured following a late challenge by Ashley Cole in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat of Chelsea.
United boss Alex Ferguson’s immediate reaction was to rule Hernandez out for two weeks but there were fears the striker could be sidelined for much longer.
However, after scans yesterday, his agent said Hernandez has suffered nothing worse than a “bump” and the player will be back in training after last night’s Carling Cup trip to Leeds.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has revealed the knee injury suffered by Hugo Rodallega is not as serious as first feared.
The striker was hurt in the closing moments of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Everton, being carried off after a challenge from Denis Stracqualursi.
There had been fears that Rodallega had suffered serious knee ligament damage and would be out for up to three months. But while Martinez cannot give a timescale for the Colombian’s return, he says it will not take as long as the Latics had initially thought.
He said: “The scans came back really positively, it doesn’t seem there are any big concerns in terms of the structure of the knee.
“We won’t know how long he’s exactly going to be out but what’s clear is that the injury is not as bad as we first thought.”
