Jags Admits Distraction

Jags has admitted persistent speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal had an unsettling effect on him.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Jagielka admitted: “I was slightly affected because my name was in the papers a little bit,”

“But I spoke to the manager a couple of times and he let me know what was going on. It was difficult. We were all a lot happier when the window shut.

“Unfortunately we had lost Mikel and Jermaine but that´s what we needed for the club to go forward. Hopefully we will have a good season and that will be the turning point.

“We´ve balanced the books and brought a couple of players in on loan who have done really well. We´ll go from there.”

“It was difficult because I´m not used to speculation. There wasn´t a part of me that expected to go, so it wasn´t hard mentally,” Jagielka added.

“If I had wanted to go, I´m sure the gaffer would have expected me to kick up a fuss. But me and him had a chat and there was an understanding.”