Everton defender Phil Jagielka admits he is not focusing on gaining
a World Cup place as he nears a comeback from a long-term knee
injury.
The Toffees centre-half has been out since April after
rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament and subsequently missed
the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
The 27-year-old was expected back for the start of this
season but having suffered a further setback in November - Jagielka
needed a second operation - the former Sheffield United man is
still some weeks from full fitness.
Having made his England debut against Trinidad & Tobago
at the end of the 2007/08 campaign, Jagielka added two more caps
last term and looked among the contenders for a place on the plane
to South Africa.
But the centre-half admits those plans are now in tatters.
"I am not sure," he told Sky Sports News, after being asked
his chances of making Fabio Capello's squad.
"I was looking to get back before Christmas and hopefully
stake a claim but unfortunately I don't know when I will be back,
so I am not looking at the World Cup at the minute."
Jagielka did reveal that he was looking to make it back into
training within the next three weeks and concentrate on getting
back into the Toffees' first-team.
"I tried setting goals early doors, say six, seven months,
but obviously at the moment it's been a little longer than I would
want. Unfortunately it's quite a complicated injury with your
knee," he added.
"You have to do a lot of work with it and take it week by
week. I am feeling good, I'm quite refreshed at the moment and
hopefully in the next few weeks I will have an inkling as to when
I'll be back playing again.
"(It will) probably be in the next two or three weeks, but
after eight months or so I can't imagine my first touch being as it
was, so it might take me a little while to get sort of game ready
but I am looking forward to it."
