Everton FC News: Birmingham draw was a missed opportunity, Phil Jagielka

Mar 15 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: PHIL JAGIELKA rued a “missed opportunity” as Everton threw away the chance to close in the European qualification places.

David Moyes’s side surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at near rivals Birmingham City on Saturday.

Victor Anichebe and Yakubu netted during the first quarter before Cameron Jerome pulled a goal back for the visitors, who then equalised shortly after half-time with a Craig Gardner strike.

It means Everton remain six points off sixth place – currently the last Europa League berth – and two points behind eighth-placed Birmingham City with only nine games to play.

And Jagielka said: “We are frustrated with the goals we conceded and it knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit. It is a missed opportunity.

“We came here and needed to lay down a marker and hope results would go our way.

“As it was, a draw is not the worst of results here, a lot of teams have been beaten here but we are running out of games and we need to pick up three points.

“We did start the season slowly. Maybe realistically we were never really going to be pushing for the European places.

“But the boys have had some fantastic results which has catapulted us back up the league and put those sort of ideas back in people’s heads.

“I think the gaffer wants to push on as far as we can this season. And next season I think we have a strong squad now and people are going to start laying claim to those positions.”

Jagielka made only his second start since returning from more than 10 months out with a serious cruciate ligament injury.

He added: “It is another 90 minutes under my belt. I am enjoying still playing but you can’t help but be a little bit frustrated with the result, although I am happy just to be out there. I want to play as many games as the gaffer wants me to. Thankfully there is more or less one game a week now which is easier on the body.”

Jagielka’s comeback has sparked an inevitable debate over whether the centre-back can force his way back into England coach Fabio Capello’s thinking for this summer’s World Cup finals.

The defender admits his return has probably come too late to book a seat on the plane to South Africa, but is determined to build up his fitness and impress during the final two months of the campaign.

“I can’t expect to be in the squad – I have played two games this year,” said Jagielka. “Maybe if I play eight or 10 games and Mr Capello decides he wants to take me then it is his choice.

“I would love to have a plane ticket over to South Africa but realistically it may have been a couple of months too late for me to comeback.

“It is hard to assess my sharpness because the first game back the adrenaline gets you through. I think I have a little while to go.

“The FA were in touch when I was injured and wished me all the best. If Mr Capello gets in touch and asks me to go to South Africa I will be more than happy to do so.

“When I had the operation I thought it would be six to eight months so I would have half a sniff of the World Cup. But it was 10 months and there is nothing I can do about that now.”

Nevertheless, Jagielka has not yet booked his summer holidays in case the call from Capello comes in May.

“I might get 10 games until the end of the season and if that is good enough it will be brilliant, if not I will put my England shirt on in the summer and support the boys,” he said.

“If I don’t go away I will be booking holidays with family and friends. I will have an England shirt on one way or another either supporting or hopefully playing.”