Phil Jagielka has been a very nice surprise this season. When he first joined the club, many didn’t rate him. Yes, he had played brilliantly for Sheffield United, but the snooty questions about whether he was “Everton quality” were soon trotted out. Although Jagielka came in with a wobbly start, registering some tepid performances in midfield, since playing at the heart of defence he has gone from strength to strength with some brilliant performances.

I was a big critic of David Moyes' decision to bring in the Sheffield United man, and he suffered from being a utility player, the type of player that is often used to fill cracks and holes in the team as the season runs on and never gets to establish himself in one position. Luckily Jagielka, after a slow start that even he admitted had him worried, slotted in at centre back and took to it like a duck to water. He was a ready-made, younger and faster, replacement for Alan Stubbs.

Next season Moyes has a problem, he has three excellent centre halves at the club and only two slots available, and with Joleon Lescott playing out of his skin at left-back and then declaring that he would like to switch back to his preferred position of centre half – the pressure will be on Yobo and Jagielka to perform.

The difficult thing for Moyes is that both of these players have been playing well all season, and to drop either of them will be extremely hard. Really, I see two options for Everton: either play Joseph Yobo at right back (can he really be as bad as Tony Hibbert or Pip Neville?) OR use all three centre halves in rotation. I am starting to think the latter option is better, as playing Yobo at right-back just so Lescott doesn’t have to play at left-back doesn’t sit well in my mind.

The wear and tear of the Premier League and Europe, and the certain African Nations call up for Yobo – means that three centre-halves are essential at Everton. Looking ahead though, you start to worry for the future of Yobo. Jagielka will be an obvious first team starter during the African Nations, and by then Moyes may well opt for a Lescott-Jagielka starting lineup.

This was an excellent season for Jagielka, not just because he overcame early season stage fright to establish himself in the side but also because his performances for the Toffees were recognised by Fabio Capello. Jagielka got a call-up to the senior England squad for the two friendly matches with United States and Trinidad and Tobago.