GARY Cahill feared that Jussi Jaaskelainen would be lost to another club in the summer, but now thinks Wanderers will see the best years of his career.

The dressing room was preparing for life without the long-serving Finn, with Galatasaray, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough waiting in the wings to take the keeper on board.

But having seen Jaaskelainen pen a new four-year deal in July, Cahill now predicts that the in-form 33-year-old can get even better.

“I think honestly, at one point, we did think he would go,” Cahill said of the keeper’s much-publicised contract discussions. “I thought that maybe he would have moved on, thought he had been here for many years and might have wanted a change.

“It was great when he did commit himself here, everyone was over the moon. You saw against Hull how important he is to us. It’s okay the goalscorers getting credit but the job he does is vital.

“I can only talk about the time I have been here but I think he can get even better from here.”

Wanderers were certainly glad they could call on Jaaskelainen’s services after a virtuoso display at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

In a manic 20-minute spell he made several world-class saves but after the game he refused to take the plaudits.

Cahill said his team-mates left him in little doubt about the job he had done.

“He’s an experienced goalkeeper, he knew what he did for the team and the lads definitely reminded him,” he said.

“But it is so important to him that when he doesn’t have something to do, like in the first half against Hull, that he doesn’t lose his concentration.

“That’s the mark of a quality keeper. When you are called upon you produce the quality he did.”

The back five has remained unchanged for the last six games, three of which have yielded clean sheets.

Cahill explained that trust plays a big part in the club’s current defensive strength.

“There are a lot of reliable players in the back four – for example I don’t have to worry about playing alongside Andy O’Brien because he’ll look after himself,” he said.

“It’s the same with the goalkeeper. We know he will always be there and performing regularly well.

“We don’t worry about what’s going on behind us. Some clubs might do. He’s one of the best keepers in this league, simple as that.”