It's an honour to be vice-captain: Cahill

Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill feels being England’s vice-captain was a huge honour after the player was appointed second in command to new skipper Wayne Rooney.

With the retirement of legends Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, the responsibility of leading the Three Lions fell on the shoulders of the Manchester United forward, with the Blues’ player being his sidekick.

But the defender got to wear the captain’s armband for some time during England’s friendly against Norway last week, and again during their 2016 Euro Championship qualifier against Switzerland on Monday after Rooney was substituted on both these occasions.

And the 28-year-old said that leading the side was an amazing feeling, and insists that wearing the international jersey itself is a big privilege. “It’s a massive honour", Cahill told

Chelsea's official website. “Even just to pull on an England shirt and play for England is a huge honour, but to have the added bonus of being vice-captain is amazing. “To have the armband in the last two games, even for the short time that it was, felt fantastic”, the defender added. Cahill has earned a total of 29 international caps since his debut back in 2010.

He was also a part of Roy Hodgson’s squad that went to Brazil for the World Cup this year, and started all three games before his side were knocked out of the tournament in the group stages.