Gary Cahill exclusive: ‘Thomas Tuchel has a centre-back problem - this Chelsea star can fix it’ | OneFootball

Interview: Former Three Lions star has his say on the defenders England should take to World Cup

“When you look at the fringes, the will-they-won’t-theys, that’s where Trevoh is,” says Gary Cahill.

The ex-Chelsea captain is running the rule over the centre-back options Thomas Tuchel and England have at their disposal ahead of this summer’s World Cup, and a certain Blues centre-back handed his England debut by Tuchel last June is on Cahill’s mind.

“Having seen Chelsea a lot of times this season and the number of changes and injuries they’ve had at the back, he’s been the constant — the more consistent defender for Chelsea,” Cahill says of Trevoh Chalobah.

“His attitude since he came back from Crystal Palace has been tremendous, the way he’s produced the performances he has for Chelsea,” Cahill tells Standard Sport from Wembley Stadium at the launch of Panini’s latest World Cup sticker album.

Whether Chalobah makes the squad, he says, “depends on where the manager sees him”. Cahill notes: “He knows Trevoh well, knows his personality, knows he can rely on Trevoh in certain aspects. He’s in with a shout. He’s performed very well this year.

Trevoh Chalobah was sidelined with a high ankle sprain in March

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“I think [the centre-back position] is very strong. Look, for example, at Marc Guehi. He’s gaining experience at the top level now and an all-round top centre-back.

“You’ve still got the likes of John Stones. I know he’s not had as much game time as he wants, but a proper Rolls-Royce defender. And then Harry Maguire is still in the fold and has timed his form very well. In Stones and Maguire, there are two very experienced centre-backs. It could certainly help England if they both go.

“For some of the lads going into their first one, their [Maguire and Stones] experience could be huge. Look at Portugal and Pepe — he was very experienced. Sometimes I think England are slightly quick to move on from older players. There’s definitely a value to that.”

Panini

Cahill adds: “[Ezri] Konsa has been very good this year. Looking at it, it looks like it could be Konsa and Guehi [to start]. And to have Maguire and Stones in this squad could be key.”

Conversation turns to the topic of whether Chalobah’s Chelsea teammate Levi Colwill could make a late dart for the squad. The central defender is highly though of across the English game but has not featured at all for the Chelsea first team this season due to an ACL injury he sustained in pre-season. He is playing for their Under-21s now as he works his way back up to full fitness.

“But age is on his side,” Cahill says of 23-year-old Colwill. “He will come back stronger. It’s great to see him coming back and next season I’m sure will be a good season for Levi.”

Cahill earned 61 caps for England between 2010 and 2018 and describes sticker collections as an “historic and very popular” part of every World Cup. This year’s collection features 980 stickers, including 68 ‘special’ stickers, and players such as Lionel Messi and England captain Harry Kane.