Everton defender Phil Jagielka is ready to take on the responsibility of inheriting the club captaincy from Phil Neville.

The England centre-half claims they are very different characters but it is a challenge he is looking forward to and says it has come at the right stage of his career.

"Responsibility is something that I need," he said. "I'm still a bit of a big kid when it comes to messing around - afterwards. Everyone says what a fantastic captain Nev has been, that he has been such a professional.

"People sometimes don't understand that. He conducts himself right in every aspect, on and off the pitch.

"Maybe I can be a bit juvenile at times. That's the character I am, that's the character he is.

"I'm sure that we will be very different captains, but hopefully we will have a very similar impact on the squad.

"I'm 30 now, not 16 and 17, so the time has come for me to grow up.

"If someone has got a problem, or they need help and advice, rather than hiding from it, I will try to help them out."