JAGS IS AN IMPORTANT LEADER AT THIS CLUB... HE’S GOING NOWHERE

EVERTON club skipper Phil Jagielka will not leave next month, says boss Marco Silva.

Jagielka (right) now looks fifth in line at centre back behind Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma and young Mason Holgate at Goodison. But Silva says his presence and leadership is still required.

“We need him for sure,” Silva said of veteran Jagielka, 36.

“It’s normal in football that people look towards the people who are playing, but we have a squad of 27 and some of them are very important in our dressing room and every day in how they work. Even if Phil Jagielka is not playing as he has done normally in his life at Everton he is an important player for this club.

“It is not in my mind for next month to let him go. Let’s see what will happen, but it is not on my mind to even think about it.”

Silva has an injury worry over midfielder Idrissa Gueye for the trip to City and he revealed he will look to Tom Davies to deputise, as he insisted the young star will not be allowed to leave on loan in January.

He said: “No way. Impossible. Tom is part of our squad. He is an important player for me and an important player for us as a club. He is the present and the future of our club.”