Barry Horne: Everton FC are right to protest about Phil Jagielka playing through the pain for England

Nov 12 2011 by Barry Horne, Liverpool Echo

ON THE other side of the coin, Everton FC, and Evertonians, will be much less pleased to see another of their players lining up at Wembley this evening.

It is common knowledge that David Moyes does not have the biggest of squads with which to juggle, and that losing Phil Jagielka for any length of time could be a serious blow to the club’s ambitions.

Especially considering that Everton, struggling domestically, have a run of fixtures that they can, and need to, pick up points from.

Jagielka is a key player for Everton, a linchpin of the defence and a leader on the field. That he is being asked to, or forced to, play for his country whilst struggling with a toe injury that requires injections to get him through, does not sit right with a lot of people.

It certainly means the question that initially springs to mind is would such an important player for Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City be required to play through the pain in a friendly international under the same circumstances? I think we all know the answer to that one.

I also believe the player himself has been put in a difficult position. Any player asked to play for his country would unquestionably jump at the chance, and Jagielka is certainly that kind of player.

But I’m sure in the back of his mind, he may feel that a rest would have done him the world of good in the long term.

David Moyes, of course, will doubtless be in complete and utter agreement.