Cahill tipped to embrace Zouma challenge

Former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair is convinced his one-time team-mate Gary Cahill has the mental strength to rise to the challenge posed by Kurt Zouma.

Cahill has been a key figure at the heart of the Blues defence since signing in January 2012 and was made England vice-captain last year.

But the 29-year-old has found himself among the substitutes in recent weeks, with French centre-half Zouma starting the league games against Manchester City, Everton and Burnley.

Sinclair told West London Sport that manager Jose Mourinho has an “incredibly tough call” to make when deciding John Terry’s defensive partner for Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham.

“It’s such a tricky one to second guess, but whoever plays will be good enough and will form a strong partnership with John,” said Sinclair, who played with Cahill while the pair were together at Burnley in the 2004/05 season.

“Knowing Gary, he will be desperate to play and his experience could be the thing that tips it in his favour.”

Although Zouma was preferred for the big league match against reigning champions City, Cahill started against Aston Villa and was also in the line-up for the Champions League match against Paris St-Germain.

“That was the best he has played for a while and exactly the sort of performance the manager would have wanted,” added Sinclair, who played for Chelsea for eight seasons and was the club’s player of the year in 1993.

“He’s a great defender, mentally he is very strong and he knows he is at a huge club, and if you don’t expect to have strong competition for places then you are at the wrong club. It keeps you on your toes.

“JT has probably got one or two more seasons and then you may need a replacement. And Zouma and Cahill could be the centre-back pairing for Chelsea for years to come.”

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