GARY Megson is surprised that Fabio Capello did not turn to Gary Cahill when defensive injuries blighted the build-up to Wednesday night’s friendly in Germany.

When Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole withdrew from the squad through injury, the England boss shocked many by calling up untested Chelsea centre-half Michael Mancienne, a 20-year-old with no Premier League experience for the game in Berlin.

Cahill has more than 50 top-flight games and three under-21 caps under his belt, and Megson believes it is only a matter of time before he gets a senior call.

“All Gary can do is just keep plugging away,” he said. “Fabio Capello had the opportunity to watch him against Manchester City so there’s nothing more he can do. We all have our own opinions. We see Gary week in, week out and think he’s a top class player.”

Cahill has been in impressive form of late, which makes his omission from an injury-stricken squad all the more puzzling for the Wanderers boss.

“We have got the fifth best defensive record in the Premier League and Gary has been a huge part of that,” he said.

“But now we have seen David Wheater, Matthew Upson and Michael Mancienne get the call in front of him.

“It’s surprising but there is nothing he can do – just keep plugging away.”

Fabrice Muamba, Danny Shittu, Ricardo Gardner, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ali Al-Habsi and Heidar Helguson are all away on international duty this week, with Ebi Smolarek and Gretar Steinsson staying at home because of illness and injury.

Joey O’Brien is also sidelined with a thigh injury which will keep him out of the weekend game at Middlesbrough.

It left Wanderers’ Euxton base a rather desolate place yesterday morning.

“It’s a bit of a nonsense,” Megson said of the most recent international gathering. “I don’t think it is necessary but I can understand why the countries want to get their players together and work on things for games which are actually meaningful. The problem is, England don’t have the players there who will be playing in those games.”

l Chelsea’s Didier Drogba will miss his side’s visit to the Reebok Stadium at the start of December after picking up a three-match ban for throwing a coin at Burnley fans during their shock Carling Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge.