Gaz growing in stature

Former Blues midfielder Ray Lewington has praised the leadership qualities of Gary Cahill, who he worked with during his four years in the England set-up.

Lewington represented Chelsea 92 times during his five years in our first team during the Seventies, although he spent over a decade at the club having joined the youth ranks at the age of 10.

A lengthy coaching career followed, the pinnacle of which saw him assist England manager Roy Hodgson between 2012 and ‘16, and Cahill was a mainstay of the team throughout that period.

We saw Gary grow up as a man during that time,’ said Lewington, who started his managerial career with Fulham at the age of 29. ‘Eventually we made him our vice-captain, and he deserved that.

‘His CV is so impressive that you’d be thinking this boy is a brash, confident lad, but he’s actually very quiet. He’s a very, very likeable man and I’ve got a lot of time for him.

‘He’s quite a shy and introverted lad, he’s not what people typically think of footballers.

‘Instead of having big meetings where everyone would attend, we would get a group of six, or maybe just the back four, and rather than us telling them, we’d say, “You tell us.

‘Through that, I think Gary really came to the fore. We’d have a meeting between the back four or whatever and Gary would be quite vocal, whereas before he may not have said a word.

‘We saw him mature and grow and become someone with an opinion – and an opinion we trusted and took notice of.’

As well as being a fantastic presence in the dressing room, Lewington also had a lot of time for Cahill as a footballer.

‘His CV is fantastic – he’s won everything with Chelsea, he’s played for England, he’s vice-captain and he’s captained the side when Wayne Rooney’s not there,’ said the 60-year-old.

He should remember that – and he’s done it because he deserves it. He’s done really well.’

Cahill is in line to win his 53rd cap for England on Wednesday when the Three Lions face Germany in a friendly match played in Dortmund.