Is just one Chelsea player in the England side a sign of things to come?
Gary Cahill admits he is surprised to now be the only Chelsea player turning out for England but expects his role as sole flag-bearer to be temporary.
The Blues defender collected his 37th cap in Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Switzerland at Wembley, turning in a near-perfect display in his role as vice-captain.
But when he was rested for Saturday’s match in San Marino, there was not a single player from Chelsea in the England side.
“It’s a surprise maybe, because in the past obviously there’s been quite a few players representing Chelsea,” Cahill told West London Sport this week.
“It’s just me at the minute, but I’m sure in the future there will be many more coming through that will represent us as well.”
But is he right? Or has the last week been a sign of things to come?
It was not so long ago that Chelsea were providing the nucleus of the England team, with Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry all part of the set-up.
All four were involved on the night Cahill scored his first goal for his country in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia, although the defender was then in his final months at Bolton before the switch to west London in January 2012.
Two other ex-Chelsea players were also involved that night in September 2011 – Scott Parker started the game, with Glen Johnson on the bench. Keeper David Stockdale, then of Fulham, was also on the bench, incidentally.
Winning his fourth cap under Fabio Capello, the goal signalled Cahill’s transition into the big time.
His move to Chelsea appeared to be part of a deliberate policy to base the team around a core of Englishmen and more than just a nod to home-grown quotas.
But fast forward to the next Euros and the old guard at Chelsea are no longer playing for their country – in the case of Terry because of his spat with the Football Association over the Anton Ferdinand affair which brought a premature halt to his international career.
For now, there seems no prospect of any other Chelsea player turning out for England any time soon, unless Ruben Loftus-Cheek can earn a starting place under Jose Mourinho.
It is not impossible that an absence of Chelsea players will become the norm after the European Championships in France next summer, where Cahill is almost certain to take part, barring injury.
The 29-year-old’s form has come under scrutiny for maybe the first time since moving to Chelsea, as leaked goals have undermined the watertight rearguard of last season.
Desperate attempts to lure John Stones from Everton and the recent signing of Senegal defender Papy Djilobodji signals not just a recognition that Terry cannot go on forever, but also that Mourinho’s trust in Cahill may no longer be unequivocal.
Kurt Zouma may end up as a holding midfielder rather than a defender, but his progress has been so swift he might also end up usurping Cahill as Chelsea’s defensive mainstay.
Mourinho will not hesitate to change what has been a winning formula if he sees it malfunctioning and there are no guarantees that even the dependable Cahill will remain untouchable – for club as well as country.
