Jagielka can snuff out Reds' threats

Stuart McCall says Phil Jagielka is the man to stop Liverpool's dangermen ending Everton's FA Cup dream at Wembley on Saturday.

The former Goodison Park favourite, now manager at Motherwell, saw Jagielka and John Heitinga marshal the Everton back four to a clean sheet in their 4-0 demolition of Sunderland on Monday. McCall is likely to be at Wembley this weekend because Motherwell do not have a match until April 22, a gap of a fortnight in their fixture list. And the Fir Park boss, who played alongside Jagielka at Sheffield United, expects Toffees boss David Moyes to choose between Sylvain Distin and Heitinga for the spot alongside Jagielka on Saturday. "I was 38 when I went to Sheffield United and I was beginning to feel it," McCall told the Liverpool Echo. "Fortunately there were some great young lads like Michael Tonge and Jags there. Phil was right-back then and always did well." McCall feels the England centre back is capable of keeping the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard quiet on the biggest stage of all in the FA Cup semi-final. "We would do set piece practices in training and even when he was young he'd say his part, and come up with input which was worth listening to," he says. "He knew the game properly and reads it even better now. I was delighted when he got his move to Everton and always suspected that once he'd settled down, he had every chance of playing for his country. "Liverpool have got some excellent players in Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, and I'd back Jags to handle them. He's got the pace you need and he has plenty of big game experience now too."