Jags Comfortable On International Stage

Why Phil Jagielka now feels at home on the international stage.

Phil Jagielka now feels at home on the international stage.

That's the view of former central defender and Everton reserve team coach Alan Stubbs, a former teammate of Jagielka and a man he mixes with regularly at the Blues' Finch Farm training ground.

Stubbs believes the 30-year-old is now much more comfortable in the spotlight that inevitably comes with playing international football.

Jagielka played all 90 minutes of England's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Ukraine on Tuesday night having scored his first international goal earlier this season.

He's been a regular squad member under Roy Hodgson and Stubbs reckons he is rightly being acknowledged at the highest level.

He told evertontv: "I think he looks like he has settled in to the England fold, whereas earlier on it was one of those situations where you had to do really well or you would be out.

"I think he has become more relaxed in his surroundings and he feels as if he has been part of the team.

"I don't think there is any coincidence that his performances for England have been very good recently."