Jagielka ready for supporting role

Everton defender Phil Jagielka is looking forward to a "fantastic" World Cup - whether he makes Fabio Capello's England squad or not.

Jagielka is back in contention for a place in the party to travel to South Africa after overcoming a 10-month lay-off to play a part in Everton's strong finish to the season.

The 27-year-old had just forced his way into the England side when he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in a club game against Manchester City last April.

He did not return to first-team action until February but has started all of Everton's last 10 games and impressed enough to suggest a trip to South Africa is not out of the question.

Jagielka said: "You dream about playing for your country in the World Cup and if I get the opportunity to travel with the squad, especially after the previous 10 months, it would be amazing.

"If I am lucky enough to go I'll be buzzing - but, if not, I'll still be smiling, I'll still be putting my shirt on supporting the boys.

"There will be plenty of boys to support anyway, as far as club lads go.

"I won't support them all for too long, but I will at least at the group stages. It will be fantastic."

Jagielka underwent surgery in the days immediately following his injury and could only watch as Everton took on Chelsea in the FA Cup final last May.

His presence was then sorely missed as the Toffees made a poor start to the current campaign, collecting just 15 points from their opening 14 Barclays Premier League games.

Their form since has been outstanding with just two defeats in 23 games but their late charge for a European place has fallen just short.

Jagielka admits his rehabilitation was a frustrating period but he does not want to wonder now about what might have been had he not got injured.

"It's football and I can't complain," said the former Sheffield United player.

"I'd had eight or nine fantastic seasons and then the first major injury I had last year ruled me out for some time.

"If I can keep myself fit now for the remainder of my career I will look back feeling I was one of the lucky ones having not spent that much time on the sidelines.

"It's not been the best year but all I can do is smile. I have had enough of being sulky and moody.

"I've not played a lot of football but the last couple of months have flown by."

Jagielka admits he still feels some discomfort in the knee but is confident of making a full recovery.

"It is okay, not amazing," he said. "I've been told it will still take a little while for it to feel as good as it should do but that is more than good enough.

"I'll keep working on it and working on it and hopefully it will get back to the strength it was."

Steven Pienaar wins Everton FC's player of year award

STEVEN PIENAAR’S outstanding campaign has earned him the Everton FC player of the season award.

He was handed the honour last night at the club’s end of season awards in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.

The South African topped a poll of Everton supporters and succeeds last year’s winner Phil Jagielka.

Pienaar has been the creative force of the Goodison outfit’s run of just two defeats in 23 league games that pushed them to the brink of European qualification following a poor start to the season.

The 28-year-old has netted seven goals this season – equalling his best tally as a professional.

Pienaar will spearhead the host country’s World Cup challenge next month, and is hopeful of overcoming an ankle problem to play in Everton’s final Premier League game of the season at home to Portsmouth on Sunday.

Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful of holding on to Pienaar next season, despite him approaching the final 12 months of his contract.

Talks have stalled over a new deal for the South African, with his situation being closely monitored by Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

Moyes has previously stated his intention to keep his squad intact, adding “one or two” key players to bolster his resources.

And Jagielka believes that continuity can help Everton come racing out of the blocks when the new campaign gets underway.

“We’ve got an important season coming up,” said the centre-back. “We would have hopefully gelled in all the new players and we’ll be looking for those – and the ones who’ve been here for a while – to put in a good start and give the fans something to cheer about from day one rather than Christmas time.

“We hope everyone has a fantastic World Cup with the numbers that are going there – but first and foremost we don’t need any more injuries.

“Hopefully we will have a strong team and everyone will be used to playing with each other and there won’t be a bedding-in period.

“We hope to have a good start, we’ve struggled to do that over the last few seasons.”

Toffees stunned by Webb decision

Everton were left baffled as their hopes of a place in next season's Europa League came to an end following a 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday.

Needing a victory to maintain their challenge, it looked as though they would be granted that wish when Phil Jagielka found the net in the 72nd minute.

The defender's firm downward header from Mikel Arteta's corner was helped in by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

However to Everton's astonishment referee Howard Webb disallowed Jagielka's effort, apparently because Victor Anichebe was offside.

The decision left manager David Moyes baffled and remonstrating with the fourth official.

Moyes skipped the post-match press conference and his assistant Steve Round said: "We thought it was a perfectly good goal. We cannot quiet understand why it was disallowed. The officials made the decision and we have to respect that.

"He (Anichebe) is in an offside position but is he interfering, I don't know. We have taken a corner and it has been headed straight in the net."

It was a pivotal moment not just in the game but also in Everton's season after a miserable few months at the beginning of the campaign.

They have lost only twice in the league since November but Europe is now out of reach.

Round said: "We are very disappointed as we wanted to win today to keep the pressure on.

"We felt after Stoke's defeat last week they would be in an aggressive mood and determined to show everyone it was a one-off.

"We were hoping to take control of the game in the last 30 minutes but unfortunately we could not quite do it.

"We are determined to be in Europe every year. That's the ambition of the club. We want to be in the Champions League if not the Europa League. It does test your resources but we want to be in these competitions.

"We had a disappointing start with key players missing. We have been on an excellent run of form. We have not lost in 10 and that bodes well for next season."

Round admitted Everton missed the services of Steven Pienaar, who was sidelined through injury.

He said: "Steven is a quality player, who has been in great form. He just rolled his ankle in training. It is nothing serious."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was pleased to see his side keep a clean sheet following the 7-0 mauling by Chelsea last weekend.

It could have been even better for his side had Rory Delap not missed a gilt-edge chance shortly after half time.

He side-footed his effort wide of the post when it seemed easier to score following a cross from Matthew Etherington.

Pulis said: "We have a great bunch of lads. It is a good place to be at this club. We do not want players who think they are doing us a favour.

"The result at Chelsea was a massive disappointment. Our away form has been brilliant, we have been really solid. We showed a response today.

"We hope we have the opportunity to move people out and bring people in. That has always been the case.

"We cannot be making great strides. You cannot be too quick. We will be working as hard as we can to take this club on."