FORMER Wanderers manager Owen Coyle believes the form of ex-Whites defender Gary Cahill is a major factor in Chelsea's unbeaten start to the Premier League.

The Blues have dropped just four points from their opening 12 matches and Coyle says the Yorkshireman's partnership with skipper John Terry at the heart of the defence is the base which that impressive run is built on, claiming the man he sold to Chelsea almost three years ago is the complete defender.

Coyle told Sky Sports: "He has everything. In terms of skills as a footballer, he has pace, power, he has two great feet.

"And along with being a top-class defender, he weighs in with goals as well.”

Coyle was in charge of Wanderers when Cahill left for Stamford Bridge for £7million in January 2012.

And he says not only was he a fine player for the Whites during his four years and almost 150 appearances for the club, but an "outstanding man."

Coyle added: “We agreed a deal the night before we were due to play Everton at Goodison and I told him the deal had been concluded and you don’t have to play in the game and risk injury.

“He said 'no gaffer, I want to play in the match'.

"We went to Goodison, we won the game 2-1 and he actually scored the winning goal.

"He still wanted to help his team at Bolton. That summed him up as a man."