Jagielka: I'd get beaten up for rejecting England

Phil Jagielka will never take the thrill of playing for England for granted.

The Everton defender won his third international cap in midweek to mark his full recovery from the knee injury that ruined last season and wrecked his World Cup dream.

And while players like Wes Brown and Paul Robinson felt the need to turn their backs on their country by ­refusing to accept Fabio Capello’s call, Jagielka has spoken of the family pride that still makes wearing the Three Lions shirt his most treasured moment.

Jagielka said: “My Mum and Dad would beat me up if I ever rejected the chance to play for England.

“It’s just such a massive honour. I was devastated not to have been a part of the World Cup and I am as proud as punch to be English and to play for my country.

“I know other players turned down the call this time, but I’m not going to criticise them ­because no one knows about their circumstances.

“I wouldn’t tell anyone that they have made the wrong decision because if they feel they don’t want to play for England then it’s up to them.

“But at one point last season I thought I would never play for England again.

“The operation had been a success but I was getting pain from a different part of my knee and I wasn’t able to do anything for weeks at a time.

“The frustration levels were there, but the medical people at Everton were great – not just treating the injury, but keeping me sane.

“So the game against Hungary wasn’t a meaningless friendly for me.”

Jagielka added: “Players care. We’re not robots, we’re humans, and we hear boos, cheers and comments and they do affect us. We might not show that because we’re professionals.

“I have never given an England shirt away after a game because my dad wants them all.

“That’s just me, how I was brought up, and maybe other families are different. My Dad’s parents were Polish, but he is just a patriotic as I am.

“I watched the World Cup in a few places. I watched a couple of games on holiday in Portugal and another one in Shrewsbury.

“I hated it – not only because I was missing it, but because I don’t like watching football with other fans.

“The boys struggled in a couple of games and I found myself having to walk out of places because I couldn’t stand listening to the stick the team was getting. It was easier watching at home.”

The Manchester-born 27-year-old missed the 2009 FA Cup Final when he suffered the knee injury in a Premier League game against Manchester City.

He returned at the end of last season but admits that while he now feels physically fine, the mental scars remain.

Jagielka said: “I always fear the worst when I get a knock on my knee now.

“I never used to worry, but I had never been injured and once you’ve had major surgery then it is very hard when you get a smack on it.

“I got a kick pre-season and I panicked a bit because there was a bit of swelling there.

“Thankfully it subsided after a few days and I feel as good as ever.

“I have spoken to people who have ­suffered similar injuries and they all told me it takes ­between a year and 18 months to really get over it.”