Football
Mike Whalley 10y

Phil Jagielka admits he's unsure of England future after benching

Everton captain Phil Jagielka has admitted that he is not confident of winning back his place in England's defence.

The centre-back was dropped from the starting lineup for his country's recent victories over Norway and Switzerland, with Manchester United's Phil Jones partnering Chelsea's Gary Cahill in defence.

Jagielka is one of a number of players to lose their England place in the wake of a poor World Cup campaign in Brazil, where they were eliminated at the group stage without winning a match.

The 32-year-old has not been helped by a shaky start to the season at club level, with Everton conceding 10 goals in their first three league matches before they kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory at West Brom last Saturday.

Jagielka says he will not give up on his England career, but does not expect a quick return to the international starting lineup.

He told British newspapers: "I would not say I was particularly confident, no. It is up to the manager and all I can do is play well for Everton.

"Hopefully if the manager keeps playing me and I do well my case becomes stronger.

"I can't try anything else but to play well week in, week out for my club to get my place back. If it doesn't, then whatever role I am given I will deal with it and do it to the best of my ability.

"Has the World Cup left a mark? I do not feel it has. It is an obvious assumption to make because it has not been great and could have been a lot better since.

"On a personal level I do not go around shouting about things. I am sure I would not have been asked this if we had won the first three games of the season and kept clean sheets. I know I have to answer these questions."

Jagielka acknowledged that he was hurt by being named only as a substitute for the 1-0 friendly win over Norway on Sept. 3, and the 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory in Switzerland five days later.

"It does not feel nice," said Jagielka. "That is the easiest way of saying it, but the manager has a job to do. If you look at building for the future that can work against me, but if you start looking too deeply at things it is not going to do me any favours.

"If I get a bit of game time like I did at the last meet up, all I can do is the best I can. It's out of my hands who gets picked. After the game against Switzerland I was as happy as anyone else.

"I have not pushed my career as far as I can to get to the highest level just to spit my dummy out and say: 'I'm not going to come just because you're not playing me.'

"I would like to play every game and play a big part of it. As it is, at the moment I am having to play a supporting role. I still felt my contribution in Switzerland was important."

The defender, though, says he will not be seeking a meeting about his international future with England coach Roy Hodgson.

"What is there to speak about? It is the manager who picks the team," said Jagielka. "I'm not going to demand reasons for not playing. A lot of people could do that for England. That is not what it is about.

"We are part of a team and if the manager makes a decision you stick by it. There are lads who have come in -- Phil Jones at Manchester United -- and up-and-coming talent bought for a lot of money. If you are looking at tournaments ahead, it's good for them to get the experience."

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