Megson talks up Cahill chances

10 September 2009 16:15
Gary Megson insists that Gary Cahill has the ability to become a mainstay in the England team once he is given a chance by manager Fabio Capello. The Bolton defender was called up as cover for captain John Terry and Wes Brown for the World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday after both received knocks in training. In the end the pair recovered in time for the game leaving Cahill to sit and watch from the stands, but Megson was quick to point out that just being in Capello's thoughts ahead of the World Cup can only be a good thing. Despite facing stiff competition for a centre-back berth with Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and Matthew Upson also challenging the first-choice pair of Rio Ferdinand and Terry, the Trotters boss feels his charge deserves a chance. "I don't think it makes it more difficult for him that England have qualified for the World Cup," Megson said. "It is as difficult as it has always been. I think he is the best young English centre-half in the country but he is having to compete with some world-class defenders in Terry and Rio Ferdinand. "Then you've got Joleon Lescott, Matthew Upson, Phil Jagielka when he gets fit, but I do think if Gary got the opportunity that he would not come out of the team again. "But he has just got to keep doing well for us and hope that, in doing so, it takes him where he wants to be on the international scene." Megson takes his team to fellow strugglers Portsmouth on Saturday but he admits that with some of his players yet to return from international duty he will not know what he has to work with until Friday. "We spoke to all the players last night just to find out how long they had played, how they are feeling and what shape they are in," he added. "They will all come back in dribs and drabs over the course of the next 24 hours and we will make a decision from there."

Source: SKY_Sports