Walker Star-Struck By Jags

England colleague Kyle Walker grew up with Jags his hero.

One of Phil Jagielka’s England colleagues has revealed he’s been star-struck by the Everton man.

Kyle Walker, the man expected to start at right-back for England against San Marino on Friday night, grew up supporting Sheffield United.

So former Blade Jagielka was a natural hero for the Tottenham man. Walker celebrated a stunning injury time equaliser against Leeds in the stands and was a ball-boy behind the goal which Jagielka famously occupied as an emergency custodian in a win, fittingly, over Arsenal.

Walker said: “In my room at St George’s Park I had a picture of David Beckham and one of Michael Owen scoring in the World Cup in France. I was eight then, so I just about remember it.

“But I’m a Sheffield United boy, so my hero was Brian Deane, and then, when I fell back into defence, it was Phil Jagielka.

“He was a hero of mine. I was in the stands when he scored against Leeds. He took the ball down on his chest and volleyed it and it’s gone in. I was jumping up and down in the Family Stand.

“Then, when he went in goal, I was the ball boy. I was behind the net and he kept on telling me to slow down! I have seen some sights with him.”

Jagielka after his famous stint in goal for the Blades

Jagielka is set to start for Roy Hodgson’s side against the minnows of San Marino and will be operating in close quarters with the man who idolised him.

“To come here and play with him, to sit with him and eat is an honour for me,” smiled Walker.

“Sometimes he tries to get me some soup and I say to him, ‘You can’t be doing that, let me get you some soup’.

“Lining up alongside him at Wembley would be nice, but to be honest just sitting next to him having dinner’s pretty good.

“That said, I’ve never told him he was a hero – so don’t make his head too big!”