Jagielka stays positive

19 May 2009 11:07
Everton star Phil Jagielka is hoping to come back fitter and stronger from his serious knee injury. Jagielka, who was named Everton's Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Year on Monday night, faces a lengthy spell out of action after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the defeat to Manchester City last month. The England international is not expected to return to fitness until October, but Jagielka is trying to take the positives out of the injury, feeling it could help him prolong his career in the long run. "I am trying to look at positive things, I think hopefully it will make me a better pro so to speak," Jagielka told Sky Sports News. "Normally I just turn up for training, get my kit on and run out and warm up, but maybe now with the knee injury I will have to get there earlier and maybe manage my body a little bit better which will hopefully prolong my career." Jagielka is refusing to set himself any targets for his comeback, admitting next summer's World Cup with England was the last thing in his mind. "A lot of people have spoken about the World Cup, but that's absolutely miles away for me," added Jagielka. "First and foremost I want to make sure I get myself right. Once I am right start training and see how it goes from there. "First port of call is to get a game under my belt and hopefully go on from there to get my place back in the Everton team." Jagielka believes Everton are making progress as a club with another top-six finish guaranteed and he feels victory in the FA Cup final against Chelsea would put David Moyes' side on the map. "If you look at the progression of the club over the last three or four years, if you take the FA Cup out of it, to finish fifth or sixth like we are going to do this season again is quite fantastic with the funds we have got available," noted Jagielka. "The FA Cup will be a massive bonus and hopefully we can go that step further and put ourselves on the map."

Source: SKY_Sports