STUART McCall has revealed he personally recommended Phil Jagielka to England's coaching staff long before the former Sheffield United defender's inclusion in the England squad preparing to face the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.
McCall worked with Jagielka at Bramall Lane and is not surprised by the 25-year-old's rapid ascent since his £4 million move to Everton last summer.
"I think Phil needed a new challenge when he left us," McCall admitted.
"He was ready for the step up and I actually think, looking back, that he found things easy when we got promoted.
"You could always tell that he was destined to play at an even higher level.
"I can remember having a conversation with a couple of the lads involved with England about what his best position would be.
"He's mature beyond his years and he was always very vocal in training when he was with us.
"If we were working on set-pieces he'd say 'I've seen so and so do this and why don't we try it?'
"He was always putting forward ideas. One of his greatest assets is that he reads the game very well.
"At Championship level, he was a good midfielder, but in the Premiership you need different assets and I always felt that he would be a better centre-half.
"He's done exceptionally well and deserves his call-up.
"Out of the top four he could not have gone to a better club because they're well-organised and well-coached."
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