Source: Team_Talk
Jagielka raring to go for England
Phil Jagielka hopes the fact that he is fresh will stand him in good stead when Fabio Capello selects the England squad.[LNB] Jagielka had begun to regularly press for international inclusion following a string of impressive performances for Everton when he suffered a serious knee injury 12 months ago.[LNB]He only returned to action in February and such a lengthy absence makes him an outsider for a place on the plane to South Africa for the World Cup this summer.[LNB]But the versatile defender would like to think that he has played enough since coming back to be in contention.[LNB]"I have played nine games, hopefully it will be 11 by the end of the season," Jagielka told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"It is not a lot in a season but I'd rather be playing 10 or 11 games in the latter end of the season rather than at the beginning of the season.[LNB]"I'd like to (go to the World Cup), I've made no bones about that, but I don't pick the squads. I'll just have to wait and see what Mr Capello wants to do and go from there."[LNB]Jagielka is satisfied with the way he is playing but believes there is still room for improvement as he gets more minutes under his belt.[LNB]Asked about his current form, he replied: "Probably middle of the road. I feel sharp and I'm getting stronger game by game, but whether I have enough games only time will tell."[LNB]Jagielka believes one factor in his favour is that while some players are tiring at the end of a gruelling campaign, he is still fresh.[LNB]"I'd like to put that forward as my case," he admitted. "I'm raring to go and if you look around the training ground I am quite lively, whereas there are quite a few who have had a long season."[LNB]The 27-year-old is not sure he will get the nod from Capello as he accepts there is fierce competition for places in the England squad [LNB]He said: "A lot of people have had good seasons. I am not going to be blasé and say I deserve to play.[LNB]"I am going to have to keep my fingers crossed and have a bit of luck to get in the squad."
