Former Chelsea man Frank Sinclair says it is no surprise that Gary Cahill has firmly established himself as the national team’s best defender.
Sinclair played alongside Cahill at Burnley when the current Blues centre-back was on loan at Turf Moor during the 2004/05 season.
And Sinclair, who played for Chelsea for eight seasons and was the club’s player of the year in 1993, told West London Sport Cahill’s potential was obvious and his top billing fully justified.
“He is England’s first-choice centre-half and you can see why,” Sinclair said. “He has everything. He has the physical attributes and the quality.
“I always thought he could be a top player. I worked with Martin O’Neill at Leicester and was surprised he let him go at Aston Villa.
“I saw the potential at Burnley when he came in as a young kid. He hadn’t played any first-team football but took to it like a duck to water.
“He is big, mobile, great in the air and has pace. And he’s a leader and his mental side is strong too.
“He is down to earth and still wants to learn. When that happens, you keep getting better and improving.”
Cahill moved to Stamford Bridge from Bolton for £7m in January 2012 and has been a key figure in helping Chelsea win the Champions League and Europa League.
This season he has been in fine form alongside skipper John Terry, helping Chelsea move five points clear at the top of the Premier League after an unbeaten start to the campaign.
And the 28-year-old’s consistency for club and country have seen him earn the honour of being named England’s vice-captain.
Sinclair, who progressed through the youth ranks at the Bridge and played 219 games from 1990 to 1998, added: “The move to Chelsea transformed his career.
“He is at a massive club, with huge expectations and has made himself a regular. That is some achievement.
“But you just knew if his head was right and he wanted to be a be a player, there was no saying where he could end up.”
This post was last modified on 12/10/2014