Boss Owen Coyle is adamant star Bolton defender Gary Cahill is good enough to make the England World Cup squad (England 5/2 – Top European Team) – and he hopes the 24-year-old is still a Trotter if he makes it to South Africa this summer.
Three Lions coach Fabio Capello is set to name his preliminary squad imminently, with the Italian set to make big decisions over the likes of Spurs duo Ledley King and Michael Dawson while speculation suggests Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher could be tempted out of international retirement.
But Coyle reckons Cahill, who the Trotters snapped up from Aston Villa in January 2008, should definitely in the reckoning for South Africa 2010.
He said: “People will say I am biased but I look around and he is good enough to be in the England squad.
“For such a young age, and him being the top-scoring English centre-back in the country with pace and power, I don’t want to lose him.”
Coyle lives in the real world after cutting his managerial teeth with St Johnstone and Burnley before being chosen to succeed Gary Megson at the Reebok in January.
And while he wants to keep Cahill on board for next season’s Premier League campaign, he also knows a big-money offer would be impossible for Wanderers to turn down.
“I want Gary to help build on where we are. But I accept if someone comes in with an unbelievable £30million offer then we couldn’t stand in his way,” said the Scot.
“It would be the right thing for the club and the right thing for Gary.
“But my plan is to keep Gary here along with the rest of the ones I want at a football club and try to build a team.”
Cahill and Bolton (11/10 to win) complete their season with a home game against Birmingham (12/5) on Sunday afternoon and no doubt Capello will want a report – and not just over Cahill’s performance.
Bolton’s side could feature midfielder Stuart Holden, the USA international, who is in contention after a broken leg picked up in March.
The 24-year-old, who has won 12 caps for his country since his debut, will be desperate to prove his fitness in order to stand a chance of facing England on June 12.
Birmingham keeper Joe Hart also has hopes of making it into the England squad after winning rave reviews during his season-long loan spell at St Andrew’s from Manchester City.
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