Jagielka targets the leading man role for England

Phil Jagielka has revealed his desire to become the new “leader” of the England back-line after John Terry’s retirement and Rio Ferdinand’s exclusion by head coach Roy Hodgson.

The Everton centre-back is in strong contention to partner his former club-mate Joleon Lescott at the heart of the defence in tomorrow’s demanding World Cup qualifier with Poland in Warsaw.

The days of Jagielka turning up for his country knowing that Terry and Ferdinand were cast-iron certainties to start are gone.

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Now he is challenging Lescott and Gary Cahill for a regular starting spot, and at the age of 30 would like to take on the sort of mantle on the pitch that was the lion-hearted Terry’s trademark.

“Would I like to be leader of the back-line? I’d like to,” said the former Sheffield United centre-back.

“I’ve just turned 30 and I’m not exactly a young lad anymore.

“I’ve played quite a few games in the Premier League and the Championship before that to get my experience.

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“You can’t look too much into it. John’s decided to retire now and there’s a few of us competing for the two spots available.

“You’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see who takes on the mantle of leading the back-four –but I’ll be chucking my name in the hat.”

Jagielka admits he had “mixed emotions” when hearing of Terry’s decision to retire from international football last month.

“If John was here, I would say exactly the same thing,” he said.

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“I’m gutted as an England fan. He has been a fantastic player for England, he’s put his body on the line for many years now but he had his reasons.

“It was his decision. He wasn’t forced as in like a gun to his head or anything.

“But, if you look at it from a purely personal point of view, it was one less person to compete with playing for England.

“It was also an opportunity for me to try and go higher up the pecking order.”

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Jagielka added: “John and Rio played together for England forever didn’t they? They had a great partnership and there were a couple of others behind them waiting for a game.

“You go down a long list of players trying to get your chance but time passes and people have good form, bad form and you get your opportunities.

“I’ve been around the squad for the last couple of years or so, played a game here and there and I’d like to play on a more consistent basis.”

Jagielka admits he feels at home playing alongside Lescott after their spells in the same England youth sides and at Goodison Park.

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“Myself and Jols met playing football, England Under-19s, Under-20s,” added Jagielka.

“Obviously Joleon also had a similar path to me, playing for Wolves in the Championship.

“We made the first team at similar times, often played against each other, there’s only a day between our birthdays, so we are pretty much the same age.

“We eventually got to play centre-half together at Everton and it just works, the communication, the way we play. Obviously left-foot, right-foot also helps as well. It just seems to work.”

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Jagielka was a non-playing member of the Euro 2012 squad but feels the time in Poland and Ukraine was still of benefit to his progression as a player.

He said: “It gave me a month’s more air-time of training that I wouldn’t have had if I’d not been in and around the squad.

“The manager hopefully saw something he liked, kept me around the squad and has played me a couple of times since.

“I didn’t get any minutes on the pitch in the Euros but I got plenty of minutes defending against the best six strikers in training. That helps my case, definitely.”

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Jagielka insists England will be prepared for the challenge which will be presented by Poland after the 5-0 win over minnows San Marino.

He said: “That’s where the professionalism of us all will all come in. We know it’s going to be a totally different game. We will be prepared.

“It would be stupid of us to think that these two games are going to be the same. We will watch videos and be prepared.

“It’s not like you play 10 games like San Marino and then one against Poland. It’s the other way round. You’re used to playing these games.”

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Jagielka believes England manager Hodgson faces a tough decision over whether to stick with Jagielka’s Everton team-mate Leighton Baines or bring back Ashley Cole at left-back for tomorrow night.

Jagielka has hailed Baines as the in-form player in the Premier League this season and he again impressed at Wembley on Friday night.

Cole was rested for that match because of his ongoing ankle problem and he is only two caps away from reaching 100 senior appearances for his country.

But Baines has started the last four internationals and has not looked out of place on the international stage.

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Jagielka said: “It is going to be a really tough decision for the manager. Getting to watch Bainesy from a closer view than most, he has had a fantastic start to the season at club level and international level.

“It is not a bad headache for the manager to have. You’ve got Cole on 98 caps, a fantastic left-back, and then you’ve got the in-form player in the Premier League in Leighton Baines.

“As far as the manager goes he is going to have a bit of a headache – but it will be a nice headache to have.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to make that decision. I think I’d be tossing a coin, heads or tails. But I’m sure the manager will make the right decision.”