Phil Jagielka has described his upcoming return to Goodison Park as giving him ‘mixed emotions’.

The England international defender will return to Merseyside on Saturday when newly promoted Sheffield United face Everton, with Marco Silva determined to get his side back on track.

Jagielka joined the Blades as free agent after his Everton contract expired this summer, 12 years after the defender made the transfer the other way, with the defender having signed for the Toffees from Sheffield United for £4million in 2007.

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Speaking ahead of the game at the weekend Jagielka reflected on how strange it would be, should he be chosen to play on the day, to run out at Goodison Park in red and white stripes. Jagielka told Everton’s official website:

It will be a really strange feeling for me to go to Goodison.

I wasn’t able to go back to Bramall Lane in an Everton shirt and that would have generated similar emotions.

To be at a club so long and go back will be quite strange and, I imagine, generate a mixture of emotions.

The first game I looked at when I signed was when we would be playing Everton.

I can’t really tell you exactly what I expect or how I will feel emotionally but it is a match I am looking forward to.

Jagielka’s career longevity and reliability as a solid defender on Merseyside earned him the respect of the Everton fan base during his time at the club, and many fans were happy to see him return ‘home’ with Sheffield United in the summer.

Reacting to Jagielka’s comments on social media, several Everton fans responded positively by wishing him well, while others jested that a Jagielka goal seems inevitable.

Read Everton Verdict

I echo many of the sentiments above. Hopefully Jags will have a good game if he plays for Blades, but not so good a game that he impedes Everton from winning.

The defender was such a great servant over the years, and he deserves some success with his hometown club this season.