Phil Jagielka has England future says Fabio Capello

Nov 19 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

ENGLAND coach Fabio Capello has moved to reassure Phil Jagielka he remains part of his future international plans.

Jagielka was once again overlooked for the squad for tonight’s showpiece friendly against Germany in Berlin.

Capello instead surprisingly turned to 20-year-old Chelsea centre-back Michael Mancienne, who is currently on loan at Coca-Cola Championship high-fliers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Jagielka’s omission came despite the centre-back having enjoyed a fine run of form for Everton in recent weeks, including a man-of-the-match display in the 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Capello rewarded the defender for an impressive first campaign at Goodison with a first international cap in the friendly win in Trinidad and Tobago in June.

But although Jagielka has not been called up in the four squads since, Capello has revealed the Everton man remains in his thoughts.

“Jagielka is always in my mind,” said the Italian. “He is playing very well, but on this occasion I picked Mancienne because he is young and has been playing very well for the U21s.

“I spoke with Stuart Pearce about him and he told me he was good.”

Jagielka, meanwhile, has vowed to continue producing his fine displays for Everton in the hope of persuading Capello to give him the nod.

“I would have loved to have had the call but I’ve said all along I just want to concentrate on playing well for Everton,” said the centre-back.

“I was fortunate enough last season to get a chance to play for my county and if it happens again it happens.

“If it doesn’t, as long as I’m playing well for Everton then I’m happy.” Jagielka is pragmatic when considering his chances of a recall to the England set-up.

“I was still smiling when I came back for pre-season so it was a massive dream of mine since I was a young lad and I’d love to get another chance,” he added.

“But that doesn’t look too promising at the moment but you never know what is round the corner.

“Obviously there are lads at other clubs that are younger or that he has looked at more but that’s the way English football is.

“There’s a lot of good players in a lot of positions and unfortunately at centre half there’s a lot who either need to be injured or not playing well for the likes of myself to even get a sniff.”

David Moyes has hit back at the South African FA after a row erupted over the availability of Steven Pienaar.

The midfielder was pulled out of the squad for his country’s friendly clash against Cameroon today after aggravating a knee injury during a late substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday.

South African officials have claimed they were informed via a text message before the game that Pienaar would not be available, and were subsequently enraged when the 26-year-old played the final 18 minutes at Goodison.

Everton, though, say the message they sent told the SAFA the midfielder wasn’t in the starting line-up because he was still suffering from the problem.

Goodison officials have subsequently met a request from the South Africans to send scans showing the extent of the injury.

And Moyes sought to clarify the situation yesterday, and said: “Steven did not start our game against Middlesbrough on Sunday because he wasn’t fit to do so. We brought him on in the second half but it was clear that he was not comfortable.

“After the game it was a straightforward decision not to send him to join up with South Africa. We notified their FA immediately and will continue to monitor him this week.

“We couldn’t have told them any quicker and if the coach had been at our match, he would have seen for himself that Steven was struggling.”

A Goodison spokesperson added: “They (South Africa) were told he had a knock and wouldn’t start, and that he would only be used in an emergency.

“He came on because we were not winning the game and aggravated the injury, but the scans of that have been sent to the South African FA after they requested them.”

Nevertheless, South African team manager Sipho Nkumane remains unhappy with the situation, and said: “It does seem a little odd.

“The thing is, if they say he’s injured, as they allege, he can’t play in their next match.”

Meanwhile, Moyes has been hit with a £5,000 fine by the Football Association and warned of his future behaviour after a hearing into an improper conduct charge following his sending-off at Stoke City two months ago.

EVERTON will face Nantwich Town at Goodison Park in the third of the FA Youth Cup after the non-League side beat Macclesfield Town 2-1 in the second round last night.