Jagielka Tips New Boys To Give Everton Even More Quality

Phil Jagielka says Everton’s wave of summer signings are “super positive” footballers – and the Club “could not have asked for a better bunch” to join Marco Silva’s dynamic Blues' regime.

Manager Silva recruited six international stars with an average age of 23 after being appointed at Goodison Park.

Richarlison was first in through the door and, after scoring three times in his opening two games for the Club, the 21-year-old won his first full Brazil cap in a 2-0 victory over United States on Saturday.

French pair Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne impressed on their Everton top-flight debuts against Huddersfield Town 10 days ago.

Richarlison’s compatriot and fellow attacker Bernard had a brief taste of Premier League action in last month’s draw at Bournemouth and is using the international break to continue pushing towards full fitness alongside former Barcelona duo Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes.

“We could not have asked for a better bunch and all the new lads have been great,” captain Jagielka told evertontv.

“A few of them are still to get on the pitch but they are trying really hard. The squad is looking very healthy.

“We want to get the new lads out there to make an impact but the boys on the pitch have done a really good job.

“The fact there has not been a desperate need to start six or seven new players has been good. It has been one or two changes at a time.

“Then, if you can slowly build the new players into a team that is confident and playing well, it will be good for them.

“It is a bit different from some previous years when we had four, five or six new players in the side and it was more difficult to settle [as a team].”

Everton are unbeaten in their opening four Premier League games and comfortably navigated the opening stage of the Carabao Cup, overcoming Championship side Rotherham United to set up a third-round Goodison tie with Southampton on Tuesday 2 October.

Silva’s side beat the south coast team in the boss’s first home top-flight game in charge, a result which was sandwiched by a pair of 2-2 draws, at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth.

Jagielka has been sidelined since being red carded in the opening-day clash with Wolves. He served a three-match ban and then sustained a knee injury which forced him out of the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield immediately before the international break.

The defender, who turned 36 last month, insists the Blues’ good form in his absence will make life easier for Bernard, midfielder Gomes and centre-back Mina when the trio are ready for their respective introductions into the team.

“As long as the lads keep doing well at the moment, when the new boys come in they will, hopefully, settle in extra well, perform better and keep us at the top end of the table,” said Jagielka, who hopes to be fit for action before the end of September.

“You have to bring in the right people, players who are prepared to compete [for places] in the right way. And when you look at the lads who have come in, it is so far, so good.

“They are super positive... it is smiles all the way and, hopefully, that will be the case throughout the season.

“It is still early days but we are seeing glimpses [of the style Silva is instilling]. Having the continuity of those players who have been here at least a year, along with a couple of the new players, has helped.

“But there is plenty of room for improvement and we have a lot of quality still to come in.”