"I know AJ through friends in football and it will be nice to know a couple of faces when I walk into the lions' den!

"When you go into a new bunch of lads and new management the nerves are going to be there, but at least they are there for the right reasons."

Jagielka was part of Everton's Academy as a teenager, before heading across the Pennines.

"It was about ten years ago," he recalled. "I think I was here for about 18 months. I was only 13 or 14 and things didn't quite go to plan, but I moved on and I am glad to be back."

And he pledged to give his all for the Toffees - preferably in an outfield role!

"I am an honest lad and I go out there and do my best. Hopefully I won't be too badly when I do that," he said.

"I was substitute goalkeeper quite a few times when the old gaffer chose not to have a keeper on the bench. When our keeper went down it would be a worrying time for me but thankfully I only had to go in a couple of times!"