Jagielka warns Rio and JT

Everton star talks tough over England place

Last updated: 6th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jagielka warns Rio and JT

Jagielka: Flattered by Arsenal link

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Watch Switzerland v England live on Sky Sports 2, HD2 and online with Sky Player from 7pm on Tuesday.

SKY SPORTS ON SKY

There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Phil Jagielka has warned John Terry and Rio Ferdinand that he is ready to keep his place in the England team on a permanent basis.

The Everton centre-back started the recent friendly win over Hungary and was again selected in international boss Fabio Capello's first XI for last weeks' Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Bulgaria.

Jagielka, who has been in excellent form for his club at the start of the season, is again expected to start in Switzerland on Tuesday, with Terry and Ferdinand both absent through injury.

And the 28-year-old is hopeful that he will remain at the front of Capello's thoughts when Terry and Ferdinand return to fitness and are again available for selection.

Jagielka said: "It's always hard to displace players like JT (Terry) and Rio. But I would like to think I can.

"If Rio and JT come back fit for the next squad and they are in form and they get picked, they are not bad players to be behind.

Real pressure

"But I'd like to put real pressure on them, that's what it's all about and I'm sure the manager wants that as well.

"The manager has always said he wants to pick form players, so if I can keep playing international football and keep keeping clean sheets then, hopefully, it cranks up the pressure a bit."

Jagielka was a target of Arsenal in the summer and Arsene Wenger is reported to have had two bids rejected by Everton.

The former Sheffield United star is flattered by the interest from one of the Premier League's heavyweight sides, but is concentrating on life at Goodison Park.

Jagielka said: "It's nice, obviously, for a club like Arsenal to be linked with me. But nothing happened. I stayed as an Everton player and I love playing for Everton.

"We have not had the greatest of starts to the season, but I'm sure we'll pick up. It's nice, nice to get two England starts and be linked with one of the big boys."

Click Here for Your Free Bet