Motoring: Everton's Phil Jagielka scores a nice little green number

Jag's Vauxhall Ampera gives excellent fuel economy and low emissions

What sort of tasteless motor would you expect a top footballer to be cruising around in? A camouflage Bentley Continental GT like Mario Balotelli maybe, or perhaps a gold-plated Cadillac Escalade like El-Hadji Diouf? One thing is certain; you wouldn’t expect a top-flight star to be seen dead pootling around in an ultra-low emissions Vauxhall Ampera electric car.

That’s exactly what Everton player and England international Phil Jagielka has just taken delivery of though. His futuristic-looking Ampera gives excellent fuel economy and low emissions, but doesn’t offer the driving licence-endangering speeds or bling looks that most Premier League players seem to be looking for.

Jagielka is already something of a rarity in the Premiership – there isn’t a whiff of scandal about him and he’s only hit the headlines once, when he was robbed and his Range Rover was stolen. Since then it seems he’s had a green transformation and he’s not alone. Manchester United star-turned-television pundit Gary Neville also runs an Ampera, while MUFC players Sam Johnstone and Nick Powell drive similar cars.

Jagielka’s wheels are part of a year-long sponsorship deal with Vauxhall, so we’ll have to wait and see if he puts his money where his mouth is or goes straight back to his SUV on the hunt for pink wheels, a chrome spoiler and a fuel bill worthy of his outrageous weekly salary.