England's Jagielka sledgehammered walls of home after Euro 2016 snub

Phil Jagielka took a sledgehammer to walls of his home after being left behind during England's Euro 2016 bid, but insists the time off left him sharp for the new season with Everton.

The 39-time Three Lions international was a squad mainstay, but Roy Hodgson controversially opted for just three natural centre-backs - Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill, and John Stones - meaning Jagielka was among the masses in his homeland seething at a Round of 16 exit to Iceland.

"I ended up knocking a few walls down at home; got the sledgehammer out and got the aggression out that way," the veteran defender told The Telegraph's Jason Burt. "But we got a good two-week holiday as a family and have to look at the positive spin on it.

"I was grumpy for a few days, my missus will tell you, but there was no way I could change what was going to happen."

Jagielka was called into the last England squad under the short-lived tenure of Sam Allardyce, but despite legitimate hopes of a selection under interim boss Gareth Southgate, he understands his calls for a starting berth are waning.

"Realistically (Euro 2016) was my last time to go to a tournament," Jagielka continued. "I'm 34 now. If I'm looking now, John (Stones) has come in and done really well. I think it will be very difficult for me to get any game time. Whether that's true or not only time will tell."

The former Sheffield United man is slated to line up alongside new defensive colleague Ashley Williams against Crystal Palace on Friday, before his potential inclusion for England's World Cup qualification tilts with Malta and Slovenia in October.