Phil Neviile insists Everton star Jack Rodwell is good enough to play for England

Making a name for himself: Jack RodwellPhil 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. 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. 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.' 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. 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. 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. 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. It can be no coincidence England manager Capello, who was in the crowd, left his seat shortly after Rodwell made his exit. 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. Future stars: Arsenal's Kieren Gibbs and Jack Rodwell (right) 'With young players you are always going to have peaks and troughs, but Jack is definitely one of the best youngsters around.' 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. His club captain, who won 59 England caps between 1996 and 2007, believes the teenager has the temperament to thrive on the biggest stage. 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. Neville told Everton's official website: 'Jack looks the type to me that the bigger the occasion, the better he gets.'  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

Source: Daily_Mail