'I won't let Cup distract Everton'.

Byline: By NICK SMITH

PHIL JAGIELKA is out to ensure that FA Cup fever doesn't infect Everton's season.

David Moyes' side face Manchester United in the semi-final at Wembley on April 19 as the club goes for its first major final in 14 years.

But before that last-four meeting, Everton have two Premier League games that could define where they finish at the end of the season.

They face the teams directly above and below them in consecutive weeks, with Wigan at Goodison Park on April 5 followed by a trip to fifth-placed Aston Villa a week later. And Jagielka, who is on England duty along with team-mates Leighton Baines and Joleon Lescott, is keen to focus on those games before the excitement of a trip to Wembley kicks in.

"It doesn't come much bigger than Manchester United at Wembley," he admitted.

"As soon as we got through against Middlesbrough everyone was talking about the semi-final - we're going to Wembley, can we get tickets etc. But we've got some massive games before that.

"We've not talked about it too much. Every so often it crops up but we've got to try as best as we can to forget about the excitement of going to the semi-final and concentrate on the league.

"Normally at this stage of the season things are starting to die down, but fortunately for us we've got ourselves in a decent position in the league, and got a nice little semi-final to look forward to.

"If we can manage to put a good run together now in the league this can make or break our season."

In terms of making up the seven-point gap to fourth-placed Arsenal, Jagielka added: "I think the pressure is off because of the bad start we had.

"We've clawed a few of the points back and hopefully we can do so until the end of the season and see where we stand."

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Phil Jagielka