Defender up for challenge

Everton's England defender Phil Jagielka says he is happy to fight for his first team opportunities at Goodison Park.

Jags missed out at Wembley, again, at the weekend when David Moyes opted for his FA Cup centre half pairing of John Hettinga and Sylvain Distan, he is likely to return to the side for the Premier League clash this weekend against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. With five games left in the Premier League Jags is hoping to make the Euro 2012 squad this summer but he is aware he is in a squad situation at Everton. "If my role is to keep John and Sylvain playing as well as they can - or to give them a rest for a game - I'll do that," he said. "It's not ideal for me, but we are part of a team and a squad that want to do well."