PHIL JAGIELKA faces a battle to be fit for the Merseyside derby after he was forced to withdraw from the England squad with a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old was injured during training for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next Tuesday.

He was taken for an immediate scan at England’s training base in London, and then sent back to Merseyside for further treatment.

The full extent of the former Sheffield United defender’s injury is unknown, but the set-back throws his fitness for Sunday’s Goodison derby showdown into doubt.

It means Fabio Capello will be spared the difficult task of deciding whether to axe Rio Ferdinand or John Terry for the game, after the Everton star’s two towering central defensive performances in last month’s victories over Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Bolton’s Gary Cahill was called into the squad as his replacement.

Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman has credited David Moyes’ firm but fair guidance for helping his dream of international football come true.

The 21-year old was fast-tracked to Republic of Ireland’s senior set-up this week, and trained with Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad ahead of last night’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Russia.

Coleman has made two Premier League starts for Everton this season, and credits his meteoric rise to Moyes’ management.

The right-back accepts he still learning and insists he is not getting carried away with his progress.

He said: “He has definitely improved me. He’s eased me in. He gives me a lot of advice. I know myself that I’m still learning some parts of the game and that.

“He’s a good manager to play under. I obviously have to thank him for getting called into the international set-up.

“You don’t want to cross him, but I think that’s the way you’ve got to be as a player anyway.

“You’ve got to respect your manager and whatever they say you’ve got to do because they are your boss at the end of the day. That’s the way I am anyway, if I’m told to do something I’ll do it.”

Elsewhere, teenage defender Aristote Nsiala has joined Macclesfield Town on loan.

The 18-year-old, known as Toto, is capable of operating at both right-back and centre-half, and joins the Silkmen on an initial month-long loan.

Macclesfield have just 12 points from their 10 games this season and boss Gary Simpson said: “With the injuries we’ve had in the defence recently it’s no secret that I’ve been working hard to get someone in to help fill the gaps.

“So I’m delighted to have the lad here at the club. We were looking for someone versatile and he can play across the back – in the middle or at full back. Whilst we’ve not brought in experience, he’s very talented and we’ll be giving him a chance to get some competitive football under his belt.”

Nsiala has been a reserve team regular this season and was on the bench for the first team last season against BATE Borisov. He played at Anfield last month in the Jamie Carragher testimonial game.

Nsiala’s switch is a youth loan, meaning he is still eligible to play for Everton’s reserves.