FROM struggling to regain a previously guaranteed place in Everton’s team as his England Euro 2012 hopes wilted, Phil Jagielka has had a Hollywood couple of months.

In footballing terms – Jags is the Three Lions Cinderella Man.

Rewind to April, and few would have backed the 29-year-old to be in serious consideration for a starting role under Roy Hodgson in Poland and Ukraine.

Certainly being left on the bench for Everton’s biggest game in two years, that painful semi-final defeat by Liverpool at Wembley, must have come as a crushing disappointment.

But the never-say-die spirit which Jagielka has in abundance enabled him to bounce back, first with a string of excellent performances as Everton finished seventh, and then with a display for England that secured him a late call into the 23-man squad.

While some might sulk, snipe and complain, Everton FC’s Phil Jagielka is the type of player to take set-backs in his stride, with a smile on his face.

It’s the first-class professional attitude which has won over each manager he has played for, and convinced Hodgson to select him in Gareth Barry’s place.

The Everton vice captain refused to let his head drop at initially being included only on the stand-by list.

The way he sparkled alongside Joleon Lescott again, as Hodgson’s reign began with a win and a clean sheet against Norway was noted across the nation.

Indeed former Everton star Stuart McCall is one of Jagielka’s many admirers, and has know the Sale-born player since he was a raw 18-year-old at Sheffield United – and always saw an international in the making.

“He knew the game properly back then and reads it even better now,” said McCall. “I was delighted when he got his move to Everton and always suspected that once he’d settled down, he had every chance of playing for his country.”

“I was 38 when I went to Sheffield United and I was beginning to feel it. Fortunately there were some great young lads like Michael Tonge and Jags there. Phil was right-back then and always did well.

“We beat Leeds in the League Cup when he was only 18 and he smashed a belter in. After I retired he moved into central midfield and I joked with him I had to hang up my boots for him to get a go there.

“But he was great. A box-to-box midfielder and in the Championship he was solid and comfy there, although his strengths always seemed best at the back.”

McCall believes Jagielka’s intelligence set him apart from others.

“We would do set piece practices in training and even when he was young he’d say his part, and come up with input which was worth listening to,” he said.

Now, with John Terry perhaps tiring after a late end to his season with Chelsea, and Gary Cahill missing through injury, Jags could well have forced his way into the mix for regular action this summer. Few will deserve it more.