Everton’s Phil Jagielka can overtake John Terry as England’s top defender – David Moyes

John Terry and Phil Jagielka, England(Getty Images)

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Everton manager David Moyes believes that Phil Jagielka has what it takes to become England‘s number one defender and effectively take the place of the reinstated skipper John Terry, but only if he pushes himself and becomes more of a leader.

Moyes is a big advocate of Jagielka, who he believes can become a future Everton captain, and feels as though he has all the tools at his disposal to be an integral part of not only Fabio Capello’s squad but of his first XI.

However, he believes that the 28-year-old needs to toughen up mentally, so as not to be remembered as a nearly man.

“He needs to drive himself on to be that person; it has got to come from within,” said the Everton manager.

“He has got to be the one that says: ‘I want to overtake John Terry and the others in front of me.’ That’s the bit I want to see come from him.

“Sometimes he suffers from self-doubt.

“He should be looking at himself as a future Everton captain and he agrees that he has to start being a leader.

“We have Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta but he is one of the ones who should be looking to take the group on.”