Benitez urges Denmark not to risk Agger

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has pleaded with Denmark not to take any risks with Reds centreback Daniel Agger as they pursue a World Cup final place.

Agger is in the Danish squad for the matches against Sweden and Hungry despite the 24-year-old having not played for Liverpool’s first-team this season after undergoing back surgery in July.

Benitez did not think Agger was fit enough to start against Chelsea on Sunday, although he was on the bench for that match, and fears two tough internationals could endanger the defender’s return to action for his club.

“It was a difficult decision to bring Agger back into the squad, because he wasn’t fit enough to start against Chelsea,” Benitez said.

“He is now with Denmark, and I hope they will be careful with him. They have to be sensible.

“It’s good for him, because he needs to play, but he knows it will be tough for him to play both games in a row.”

Benitez was more relaxed about young left-back Emiliano Insua, who has broken into the first-team this season, winning a first call-up for Argentina.

“It is very good news for him and for us,” the Spaniard said. “He is a young player who is doing well for us. When you talk about young players, the idea is to try to promote them.

“Emiliano was a very good signing by our scouting department – a young player with potential and quality – and it was very good business because the price was good.

“Last year we had three or four clubs asking about him. But we said ‘no’, because we