FORGET about laying a new pitch down at Wembley, the national stadium’s maintenance men need to concentrate instead on installing a ramp or stair-lift in time for the FA Cup final in order for half the Everton squad to get up and receive their winners’ medals.

Phil Jagielka’s injury was an absolute sickener for everyone connected with the club and cast a far bigger pall over an otherwise great week than Robinho and company’s disappointing but not altogether unexpected victory at Goodison.

Jagielka’s been Everton’s outstanding performer this season and his honest, no nonsense approach absolutely sums up what this team are all about.

He admitted himself that he found it tough at first coming to Everton and started to doubt his own ability, but through determination and dedication he overcame those fears and forced himself into the full England team.

You can’t ask much more of any player, especially one who had played most of his football in the Championship until joining the Blues. His decisive penalty in the shoot-out at Wembley confirmed his hero status, so it seems particularly cruel that he will now miss out on what would have been the biggest day of his club career.

It’s clearly a blow for the club too, as a final against Chelsea is tough enough without losing yet another key player to a long-term injury. If there’s any consolation to be had though, it’s that there are probably few teams in the Premier League that have a central defender of Joseph Yobo’s quality in reserve.

The Nigerian international has suffered with his own injuries this season, and the emergence of Jagielka as such an outstanding centre-half has perhaps made people forget just what a good player Yobo is.