Jags Is Blues' Mr. Dependable

Howard pays tribute to defender for selfless displays.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has paid tribute to 'brilliant' stand-in captain Phil Jagielka, an ever present for the Blues in the league this term despite having a broken toe.
 
Jagielka, who takes an injection in his foot before every game, got the Everton fightback started last weekend against Wolves at Goodison Park when he headed in an equaliser just before half time in a game the hosts went on to win 2-1.
 
And former Manchester United goalkeeper Howard says Jagielka's selfless performances are priceless as the Blues look for a second consecutive victory against Bolton on Saturday.
 
"He's so dependable for his teammates, for me as a goalkeeper and for the fans,” Howard told evertontv. “He's always there - willing to stick his nose in where other people won't.
 
"He's willing to do three and four people's jobs on the field even if that risks making a mistake.
 
"A lot guys will say, 'I'll do my job and to heck with you, you sort yourselves out', but he's trying to put fires out all over the field at the risk of sometimes putting himself on the line - he's brilliant."
 
Howard and Jagielka will both be hoping to help Everton record only their second clean sheet of the 2011/12 campaign at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday against a Bolton side currently in the bottom three.
 
In recent years visiting defences have had to withstand an aerial barrage against a physical Wanderers outfit but Howard believes there are signs that they are changing their approach under the stewardship of Owen Coyle.
 
"I know quite a few players at Bolton and they have nothing but good things to say about Owen Coyle," revealed Howard.
 
"He's changed their system a little bit to suit his style and it is more of a passing style.
 
"But in the Premier League you have to be rough and tumble you have to be able to defend your goal first and foremost. You have to be able to press, kick and battle all over the field.
 
"He's taken their style from being just rough and tumble to having much better passages of play and the ball on the floor a bit more. But we need to worry about what suits us best and we'll do that."