Phil Jagielka wants to turn to rotation for Everton

Oct 25 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

PHIL JAGIELKA believes Everton must adapt to a squad rotation system if they are to emulate the success of European place rival Spurs.

The England defender accepts that Harry Redknapp’s vast, star-studded squad is ideal for making the step up to Champions League football.

Jagielka insists Everton will be in a similar position of strength with everyone fit, but insists the transition for the squad will not be easy.

He said: “It’s a different mindset and a different skill. Most of the players are used to playing week in, week out and it’s different when you’re not. To come in then and still perform is a skill. That’s what the top players do though.

“They might not play for three weeks, or have a game on and off. It’s not only switching on mentally, it’s physically as well.

“The demands of the Premier League are really high, especially if you’re not playing and getting your sharpness. If you’ve got such a big squad and it’s being rotated, there are extra pressures on the players.

“It’s totally different, but hopefully with a fully fit squad and maybe adding a few, we’ll get to those levels.”

Jagielka put in another strong performance at White Hart Lane, and is not overly concerned by Everton’s growing injury list.

He said: “We would have liked to hold onto our lead a bit longer, but it’s a point away from home against a side playing Champions League football.

“If you add up both of our squads they’d be a million miles away price wise, but we’re happy with what we’ve got.

“We’ve got a lot of injuries at the moment, the squad is thinner than we’d like, but we’ve still got enough to get out a good team.

“I’m not too worried about the injury front. Now we’ve lost a few lads for four to six weeks, where last season it was four and six months at a time.

“It was a shame to lose Ross (Barkley) for such a long time, but we’re getting Victor (Anichebe), Jack (Rodwell) and Mikel (Arteta) back soon. And it’s not like we’ve just had a bench full of kids. We had Louis and Hibbo coming off the bench at Spurs.

“It’s not as bleak as it has been. Sometimes it helps when the gaffer has not got a lot to choose from. It allows for a bit of continuity. We’re a good bunch of lads, and we’ll dig in when the going gets tough and continue on four good results.”

Despite missing England’s last Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro, due to a ham-string injury, the centre-half believes his body is in not danger of succumbing to niggly injuries.

He said: “I’ve had a little cyst on the other side of my knee, but it’s nothing major.

“It was my hamstring with England and we had a scan and realised the damage wasn’t as bad as we first feared.

“So it was up to me and the medical team, whether we tried it for the derby. Thankfully the decision we made was okay.”