The Everton defender was watching a match on television with friends when three men entered his house demanding valuables. They escaped with jewellery and a Range Rover, which was abandoned a short distance away.

Jagielka, who was recuperating from a knee injury at the time of the incident in September, said: "I had invited a couple of mates round to watch the Manchester United v Wolves game. My wife was at college and my kids were upstairs.

"Three of us were sat round the table when I heard a couple of bangs at the door...and three young men dressed in black with balaclavas were in the dining room. They threatened us for five or six minutes and got as much as they could out of the house with.

"It was quite surreal, more disturbing afterwards than at the time. My friends were on the same wavelength and didn't confront them.

"They had come in with nothing to lose...my kids were upstairs and I didn't have any sort of weapon so the odds weren't stacked in my favour.

"The heart beats quickly. They seemed to be in the house for 20 minutes but they were probably in for under five. Time stood still.

"I'm not particularly flamboyant but they took a nice couple of watches and the keys for my missus's car - and they crashed it about a mile down the road.

"Thankfully I shared the experience with my closest friends. I'm not sure if they (the intruders) were expecting to see four grown men. I think they benefited in getting out with what they wanted while we benefited by staying unharmed."

Police believe the robbers who targeted Jagielka may be the same ones who have repeatedly targeted the homes of Premier League footballers in the north-west in recent years.

The player, who only returned from the injury last week, continued on BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't know if I was targeted...but if you're going to plan a robbery and you have a couple to choose from and you flick on Sky Sports and see a player playing...that player is much more vulnerable."

The 27-year-old defender admitted his club have helped him assess his security options since.

However, he added: "I'm not sure a panic room would have done much good for me - I was sat down and had a guy two feet away shouting and waving things at me. Things get out of control."