Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC's Phil Jagielka hopes to continue form which earned praise from club and country
Phil Jagielka 300[LNB]IF DAVID Moyes could hope for one final present under his Christmas tree ahead of a tricky away tie to Stoke City, it would be a fit Phil Jagielka.[LNB]The combination of attacking power and aerial bombardment the Blues are likely to face at the Britannia Stadium, means the Blues boss could do with being able to call on the man who has forged a stubborn central defensive partnership with Sylvain Distin this season.[LNB]While there have been worrying issues in other areas of the field so far, the 28-year-old has largely built on the form which saw him force his way back into Fabio Capello's post-World Cup England squad, and earn high praise from the taciturn Italian.[LNB]Moyes will hope that Jagielka's extra rest, due to the postponement of Everton's boxing day clash with Birmingham and a non appearance in the squad that faced West Ham, will give him a chance of a clean bill of health against Tony Pulis's hard-to-beat outfit.[LNB] For Jagielka, a successful second half of the season for his club will cap off a brighter period in his England career. Following the dejection of missing out on a call up to the ultimately ill-fated attempt to win the World Cup in South Africa.[LNB]And if he needed telling that his progress remains on track, it came in the pleasant surprise of Capello declaring him a 'leader' on the pitch ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in September.[LNB]'I think he means I'm a little bit vocal on the pitch - obviously last month we didn't have a great deal of experience with Rio [Ferdinand] and JT [John Terry] not being there,' says the defender with 346 combined appearances in the league for Sheffield United and Everton.[LNB]'I've not got much international experience but I've quite a lot of league games, so hearing that from the manager was delightful. He was saying, in a sense, that I was one of the most experienced players available at the time.[LNB]'Just to get the start in the first game against Bulgaria felt great. To look back on two quality results makes it extra special.'[LNB]Jagielka's recent thigh problems follow further minor complications with his knees, which prompted the darkest period of his career following the cruciate injury he suffered in 2009.
