Source: Team_Talk
Coyle backs Cahill's England claims
olton boss Owen Coyle feels Gary Cahill is as good as any of England's central defenders that went to the World Cup.[LNB] Despite showing impressive form for Wanderers towards the end of the 2009-10 season after recovering from a blood clot in his arm, Cahill was not included in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for South Africa.[LNB]Following England's poor showing at the tournament, there is now likely to be a shake-up of playing personnel and Coyle believes Cahill will be amongst those staking a claim.[LNB]"My disappointment was that when the provisional squad was named, he wasn't in that 30, because I believe if he was, Mr Capello and his assistants would have seen him training and realised that this boy can play," Coyle said.[LNB]"He has got pace, he has got a goal-threat - he has got everything, but obviously he never got that opportunity.[LNB]"I rang him straight away to make sure he was alright and he was disappointed, but he said 'well, I just have to make sure that next year I go and push myself to get into the squad'. I thought that was a terrific answer.[LNB]"Mentally he is there, as well as physically and ability-wise. There is no doubt for me that he will really push himself into that England squad."[LNB]Tottenham centre-backs Ledley King and Michael Dawson - as a replacement for the injured Rio Ferdinand - were picked for the World Cup, but Coyle feels Cahill is a match for any of his rivals in that position.[LNB]"It's difficult to say how much of a difference he would have made," Coyle said.[LNB]"What I would say though - and you have to remember that as his manager, I'm biased - is that England have terrific players, but I feel Gary Cahill is as good a centre-half as we have in this country.[LNB]"I'm not being smart after the event - I said this before the World Cup and I have been consistent with it since day one.[LNB]"For me, Gary Cahill is the complete package. I accept that he had a terrible injury and was coming back from that, and I think he was watched at one of our games when we played Portsmouth.[LNB]"He made a slight mistake in that game and I don't know if that went against him, but what I do know is that within that period, we went to Chelsea and he stood toe-to-toe with Didier Drogba and was outstanding.[LNB]"We went to White Hart Lane and he was outstanding again. Michael Dawson and Ledley King played in the game and they are very good players - I'm not suggesting anybody else is inferior, but Gary Cahill is absolutely top-bracket."[LNB]Cahill and his team-mates took part in their first pre-season training session yesterday, along with new Bolton recruits Martin Petrov and Robbie Blake, who have both arrived on a free transfer.[LNB]Coyle would also like to bring Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere - another England hopeful - back to the Reebok Stadium on loan again as he looks to strengthen the Wanderers squad further.[LNB]"We have a couple of offers here and there for different players and we await word on those," Coyle said.[LNB]"I've said all along, and I hope I am proved right - Jack will have a fantastic career and will be an England international.[LNB]"We'd love to have him on loan again, but ultimately that will be Arsenal's decision.[LNB]"So what we have to do now is see if the right type of players are out there, and it might mean investing some money."[LNB]Coyle has already spoken to Ivan Klasnic's representatives after his successful loan spell with Bolton last season, but the Croatian striker's wages may prove a stumbling block.[LNB]Bolivian forward Gilbert Alvarez is set to join up with Wanderers for a trial when the squad tours North America later this month, but Coyle has dismissed reports he is interested in making a move for former West Ham frontman Ilan or Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.
