CAHILL’S GOT THE MESSAGE

GARY CAHILL feared the worst when he failed to pick up the phone to Gareth Southgate on World Cup D-Day.

But after a roller-coaster year the England defender is heading for Russia aiming to fill the one huge hole in his CV.

In just 12 months the Chelsea centre-back went from the England armband to the England axe when he was left out by boss Southgate in March.

But he ended the season on a high with his club, winning the FA Cup, and earned his place on the plane to Russia as the most-capped member of Southgate’s squad.

There was one final hitch as he missed Southgate’s call to tell him he had made the cut.

“I missed the call, so he left a voicemail to say it’s not always bad news when the England manager phones up,” said Cahill.

Emotions

“I called him straight back, had a good conversation and was delighted to find out I was in.

“I was on the way to training and I listened to it in the car.

“I was desperate to be in the squad, like anybody else.

“It was in the week leading up to the cup final, so my emotions were all over the place for me.

“I thought it could be bad news because, in my experience of being involved with England for seven or eight years, you usually don’t get a call if you’re in.

“So I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous when I was listening to it, but I am delighted to be involved.”

Cahill was made England skipper for a 1-0 friendly defeat by Germany last March. But a loss of