PHIL JAGIELKA returns to Finch Farm today hoping his successful reunion with former Everton team-mate Joleon Lescott can help cement a place at next summer’s European Championships.

Jagielka was paired with Lescott at the heart of England’s defence on Saturday as Fabio Capello’s side earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over World Cup winners Spain at Wembley.

The 29-year-old had a painkilling injection before the match as he continues to nurse a hairline fracture of a toe, but will miss tomorrow’s friendly against Sweden as part of an agreement between England and Everton.

And the defender, who suffered the injury at Fulham last month, admits that he may have to keep taking the jabs for up to six more weeks until the injury is properly healed.

“I’m fit, it’s only a broken little toe on my right foot and nothing an injection won’t take care of,” he said. “I’ll obviously be a little bit sore afterwards but there is nothing much I can do.

“I’ve got a few more weeks with injections until it is mended. It’s normally four weeks without playing and double with playing so I’ve got a few more weeks with injections yet. I get paid to play football so if I need an injection to do so then it’s simple.

“I won’t play against Sweden. That was the agreement between the club which was good of them, especially with us not having too many centre halves at Everton it was a small risk but one we weren’t prepared to take.”

England became only the third team in Spain’s last 36 matches to prevent the World and European Champions from scoring.

And with question marks over the long-term futures of regular England centre-backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, Jagielka posted a timely calling card ahead of the Euro 2012 finals.

“As a defender it’s always nice to have a clean sheet, especially when you play against a team with as much class as Spain, so everyone’s really happy,” he said.

“I’d rather be playing at the back than in the midfield running around after them all day. It’s all concentration and if you switch off for a minute they have got the players who are threading balls through the eye of a needle so you have got to cover the holes and trust everyone else has got their men.”