SAD though the circumstances were for Gary Cahill as he made his international debut – there can’t have been a single Wanderers fan who wasn’t clenching their fist in celebration as they saw him emerge from the bench 56 minutes into last night’s game.

The youngster came to the Reebok from Aston Villa as a raw, untested Premier League quantity, but has evolved into the best young centre half in the country. Now, he has finally been given the recognition he deserves – and how he relished his chance to impress.

After five previous trips with England in which he frustratingly failed to make the field, the 24-year-old Yorkshireman was determined to make the most of his first opportunity.

He entered the fray at a difficult stage. Shortly before succumbing to a serious-looking knee injury, a poor error of judgement from Spurs’ Dawson nearly let Valeri Bojinov in for an equaliser.

England were on the ropes at that point but after Cahill’s introduction, the team managed to keep their composure and move on to a comfortable win.

The Wanderers man came within inches of a fairytale introduction to international football as he threw himself at Steven Gerrard’s free-kick, and then made two important contributions at the other end just before England broke to score a second.

He looked assured, composed, in fact everything we have come to expect having watched him for just over two years at the Reebok.

Thankfully, the rest of the country has now been able to see Cahill close at hand too – and I don’t think, by any stretch of the imagination, that it will be the last time.