Source: Daily_Mail
Phil Neviile insists Everton star Jack Rodwell is good enough to play for England
Making a name for himself: Jack Rodwell[LNB]Phil Neville has called on Fabio Capello to select his Everton team-mate Jack Rodwell for England's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.[LNB] The Everton captain believes the 19-year-old's form has shown he is ready to make the step up from the Under 21s, where he has already earned 12 caps.[LNB] Neville said: 'Jack excites me every time I see him play. He's one of my favourite young players and, if I was England manager, I'd be looking to get him into the full squad.'[LNB] Rodwell was considered for the England squad to face Hungary at Wembley last week, but missed out on the 2-1 victory as Arsenal youngsters Jack Wilshere, 18, and Kieran Gibbs, 20, received their first senior caps.[LNB] But the midfielder responded to the disappointment of not being picked for Capello's squad with a man-of-thematch performance against Uzbekistan for Stuart Pearce's Under 21 side. [LNB]Pearce had given him the captain's armband in the absence of Manchester City's Micah Richards and had asked him for a 'captain's performance', which Rodwell duly delivered.[LNB] He was impressive as part of a defensive midfield pairing in the 2-0 win and earned a standing ovation when he was substituted in the second half at Ashton Gate last Tuesday.[LNB] It can be no coincidence England manager Capello, who was in the crowd, left his seat shortly after Rodwell made his exit. [LNB]Neville, 33, said: 'I know the captaincy for the Under 21s gave him a boost and took his game to another level. He looked awesome and I think he's made vast strides this summer.[LNB] Future stars: Arsenal's Kieren Gibbs and Jack Rodwell (right)[LNB] 'With young players you are always going to have peaks and troughs, but Jack is definitely one of the best youngsters around.'[LNB] Rodwell had been linked with a summer move out of Goodison Park to Manchester United or Chelsea but the versatile player, who can operate in midfield or at centre half, signed a new five-year, £20,000-a-week deal with Everton in May.[LNB] His club captain, who won 59 England caps between 1996 and 2007, believes the teenager has the temperament to thrive on the biggest stage.[LNB] Rodwell has already shown a high level of composure by scoring a thrilling last-minute solo goal against United in Everton's 3-1 win at Goodison Park in February.[LNB] Neville told Everton's official website: 'Jack looks the type to me that the bigger the occasion, the better he gets.' [LNB] Arteta ignores Gerrard's England plea as Everton star clings to Spain dreamEverton on verge of signing Sporting Lisbon's Marat Izmailov in £4m dealEVERTON FC
