Southgate’s voicemail puts defender on path to glory

form cost him his starting place at Chelsea and left his World Cup hopes hanging by a thread when he was left out of the side for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.

“I didn’t think my chance was gone, but I felt it had taken a knock, especially as it was the last squad before we came away for the World Cup,” he said.

“I realised I had to dig deep to get myself back in the frame and that’s the way it’s worked out. I never gave up on the belief that I could make the squad.”

Cahill, who has 58 caps, started every game for England at the last two major tournaments and admits he was hurt at missing out on Southgate’s March squad.

But he revealed another call from the England boss kept alive his hopes of a recall and reckons his impressive end to the season sealed his place in Russia.

“He spoke to me before he left me out,” said Cahill. “That chat will stay between me and him but I respected him a lot for that.

“I needed to work harder, get in the team and show what I could do. On the last day of the season I lifted the cup. There was the turnaround.

“In my career, one thing that’s missing is a tournament where I feel we’ve had a real good run.

“You should always look at it like it’s your last because you never know what’s round the corner.

“I want to enjoy this tournament but that means winning games.”