Jagielka: Toffees can make the top four... but everyone seems to keep winning too!



Phil Jagielka believes Everton are firmly in the reckoning for a Champions League place.

The England defender feels his club side are good enough to finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League, but knows a tough challenge lies ahead.



Everton maintained their top four aspirations with a comfortable 2-0 win over out-of-form Norwich at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Striding forward: Defender Phil Jagielka believes that Everton can qualify for the Champions League

Comfortable: The Toffees beat Norwich 2-0 at Goodison Park and currently sit fourth in the table

All smiles: Roberto Martinez has Everton playing an exuberant style of football this season

The Toffees have impressed throughout the season and, just over halfway through the campaign, they look to be in a battle with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United for fourth spot.



Jagielka said: 'I think it is realistic and it is an aim, but it is going to be a very tough season with the amount of teams that are in there challenging.



'It's the same as before the game. We are in with a chance.



'Obviously quite a few of the teams around us have won again. That seems to be the way the league is going at the moment, but it is up to us to keep ourselves in the mix for as long as possible.



'With wins like this, and decent performances, we are still in the mix.'

Hard-working Everton dominated the first hour of their contest against the Canaries and were rewarded with superb strikes from Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas.



Barry opened the scoring with a swerving long-range strike before Mirallas made the scoreline more realistic with a fine free-kick.



Norwich did stir into life in the latter stages, but Robert Snodgrass' header against a post was the closest they came as their slump continued.



Stunner: Gareth Barry's sizzling effort opened the scoring for Everton against Chris Hughton's Canaries

Happy to be here: Winger Aiden McGeady was unveiled beforehand after signing from Spartak Moscow

Jagielka said: 'It was a tough game, especially the last part of the second half.



'We had to hang in there and work that bit harder for a clean sheet.



'But two fantastic goals for us and it is nice to walk away with three points.'



Victory wrapped up a good day for the Toffees, who completed the signing of former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moscow before the game.



With Sylvain Distin, Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley all absent, it also provided further evidence of the club's strength in depth this season.



Big miss: Ross Barkley is out with a suspected broken toe but it's unknown how long for

Midfielder Barkley has a suspected broken toe and is due to undergo further assessment before the squad fly to Tenerife for a warm-weather training camp this week.



Jagielka said: 'It says a lot if you think about the players who haven't been available.



'We still had a pretty decent bench as well. The squad is decent in numbers and hopefully we will get a few of those boys back as quickly as possible.

