Jagielka: Everton FC full-backs are the envy of the Premier League – Liverpool Daily Post

<img src="http://www.football-rss.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/a095bd86b9_leighton-baines-620-229738155.jpg" height="300" width="620" alt="Everton's Leighton Baines celebrates after he scores the first goal of the game for his side during their English Premier League soccer match against Newcastle United at Goodison Park” title=”Everton’s Leighton Baines celebrates after he scores the first goal” border=”1″ />

Everton’s Leighton Baines celebrates after he scores the first goal

PHIL JAGIELKA believes Everton FC’s raiding full-backs are the envy of the Premier League – as penalty hero John Stones revealed his audacious spot-kick was actually a mishit.

Leighton Baines was the Goodison outfit’s best player last season while Seamus Coleman produced a series of impressive performances on his return from injury during the second half of the campaign.

Both are set to play major roles under Roberto Martinez with the new manager keen to impose a more attacking approach on the team.

And Jagielka is convinced there are no more complete pair of full-backs operating in the top flight.

“I don’t think so,” said the 30-year-old. “I think Bainesy, rightfully so, has been taking all the plaudits he has been Mr Consistency for the last few seasons.

“But, quietly going about his business, is Seamus and I am delighted for him. He’s such a great lad off the pitch that he deserves all the success on it.

“Now, I think he is beginning to realise how much of a good player he is and how much of a good player we think he is – not only the players and the staff but the fans as well.

“You hope he continues his form and continues his confidence because that is a massive part of his game.”

Both Coleman and Baines started for Everton as they secured a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in their opening International Champions Cup match against Juventus on Wednesday night following a 1-1 draw.

The highlight was a cheeky spot kick from Stones, who successfully executed a Paneka-style penalty by chipping the ball over the diving goalkeeper.

But while admitting it wasn’t his truest strike of a football, the young defender revealed it was no fluke having previously practiced the penalty.

“I did it a few months ago for the Under-21s last season,” said Stones, who was also Everton’s man of the match.

“I always said I would do it and the lads have been saying that I wouldn’t do it in front of a big crowd. I’ve stuck by it and it has come off.

“I have been practicing it in training. At Finch Farm I did one and it hit the bar. I stuck with it and (in training) I did one that came off, so I thought that if I got to take a penalty I would do it.

“I wanted it to go down the middle but I kind of shanked it and it went right.

“I had to believe it was going in – and I’m glad it did, to be fair.”

The 19-year-old scored in similar style for the Under-21s in last season’s play-off victory over Newcastle United.

And Stones added: “I’m going to have to mix it up now. That might have to be the last one because there will be other teams watching the game and analysing who takes penalties and how we take them.”