Jags' Sporting chance

Last updated : 24 February 2010 By Les Roberts

Although it's not not an ideal situation, coming back from almost  a year out to play a part in our most important game of the season, Jagielka will just be keen to get back in with the first team squad.

He's not played since he, freakishly, damaged his cruciate knee ligament against Man City last April - an injury that saw him miss the FA Cuo Final against Chelsea.

It would have been all the more galling for him as he scored the decisive penalty in the semi final shoot out against Man United.

phil-jagielka

Speaking of that shoot out the Blues took a massive gamble with their penalty takers that day.

Tim Cahill missed the last penalty he took, back in 2004 - and repeated that feat in the semi final.

James Vaughan had never taken a penalty for the Blues at senior level - the fact that he took one in a shoot out after not playing all season shows the lad clearly has balls bigger than King Kong's!

Phil Neville had never hit a spot kick as a professional footballer and Jagielka missed his last spot kick for the Blues in the match against Fiorentina!

jags_fiorentina

The only recognised penalty taker was Leighton Baines.

Did you wistfully travel back in time to that wonderful day in April then? Ace wasn't it?!

Back to Jagielka and he could be in line for a place in the squad as John Heitinga is, ridiculously, ineligible, Sylvain Distin is suspended and Tony Hibbert and Philipe Senderos are both injured, though there is a chance that the Swiss defender may recover from a back injury in time for the game.

And, though it would be great to see Jags back in action, the Blues need to be careful not to rush him back and David Moyes has admitted the player is not quite ready.

The Everton manager has said: "He is physically not ready and he needed an injection in a cyst on his knee that kept him from training for a week. We hope that has cleared up. He is back training and with the people we've got out for this game I could do with him."

Which clearly calls for a bit of perspective on the situation as,  while the game is vitally  important for Everton's season, it's not worth jeopardising Jagielka's future over!