Agger set for return to left-back role

Daniel Agger is ready to reprise his emergency left-back role in Holland tomorrow – with Paul Konchesky ruled out of Liverpool’s Europa League trip to FC Utrecht and manager Roy Hodgson refusing to put a date on Fabio Aurelio's return from injury.

Centre-back Agger had already made four highly effective appearances at full-back this season, and came on in that position again against Sunderland last weekend when Konchesky limped off.

It is a position the Dane is almost certain to have to continue in against Blackpool on Sunday as well.

Konchesky has targeted the Merseyside derby on October 17 for his return from injury, but Aurelio's comeback is still clouded in uncertainty.

The Brazilian sustained an Achilles problem during the 1-0 success over Trabzonspor last month and manager Hodgson admits he is reluctant to rush him back too early.

"Where Fabio Aurelio is concerned, caution and prudence have to be the words that we use," he said. "He is progressing all the time and his efforts are very commendable but we can't bring him back too early.

"We took him off against Trabzonspor as a precautionary measure, as we didn't want to run the risk of him sustaining a serious problem."

The Premier League, meanwhile, have insisted that referee Stuart Attwell has not been dropped for this weekend's top-flight programme following Saturday's controversial match at Anfield.

Attwell has been named fourth official for Tottenham's clash with Aston Villa at White Hart Lane this weekend.

A Premier League spokesman said: "He has not been dropped - he was always scheduled to be fourth official for the Tottenham match."

And Premier League referee chiefs backed Attwell's decision to allow Liverpool's bizarre opening goal against Sunderland at Anfield to stand.

Attwell was also criticised for only giving Steven Gerrard a yellow card for a challenge on Danny Welbeck instead of sending off the Liverpool skipper.

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