IT isn’t only the Wanderers fans who are calling for Gary Cahill to be given a shot at full international honours with England.

His defensive partner for much of this season, Andy O’Brien, has joined the growing list of admirers who believe the 22-year-old is ready to play for his country.

The young centre half has been overlooked thus far by Fabio Capello, who called up the untested Michael Mancienne for the autumn international against Germany.

But his team-mate O’Brien has predicted that if Cahill can continue to mature at the Reebok, he can become the first Bolton player to wear the Three Lions since Michael Ricketts’ famously short stint in 2002.

“Gary has got a big future ahead of him,” said the experienced defender. “Whether he gets the opportunity to play for England is obviously not my decision but looking at the players who are around him, age-wise, I think he is as good as any of them.

“His defensive skills are there for everyone to see. He has caught the eye and if he continues to score goals, he’ll be in with a shout, I’m sure.”

Cahill has his work cut out breaking into an England defence with the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Matthew Upson in the prime of their careers.

Proven competitors Ledley King, Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate are also on the periphery, but have yet to be selected in any of Capello’s squads to date.

Of the new generation, Chelsea’s Mancienne and Middlesbrough’s David Wheater have been called into the senior set-up, but remain uncapped.

By the time England’s next game comes around against Slovakia in March, Cahill is likely to have topped 70 Premier League appearances. And for the good of his team-mate’s international chances, O’Brien thinks it is imperative for Wanderers to remain in the top 10.

“You can only get judged by how many goals you concede and our goals against column can match anyone’s at the moment,” O’Brien said.

“Christmas is a busy time but the manager has stressed to us that we need to look at clubs above us, not below us, and try and keep up this form.

“We have got some good results recently and now we need to show we can continue them against Chelsea.”

Four wins out of five in November have took Wanderers into the top 10. And as such, the visit of title-chasing Chelsea holds little fear for the former Republic of Ireland international.

“I thought it was so important to get six points from the last two games, and we have done that,” he said, referring to wins at Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the last fortnight.

“Now we have go a home game to look forward to against a very good team but we are going into it on a good run.

“We have got a decent record at home, we are difficult to play against. We have got to be confident.”