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Knight Delight For Defensive Partner

Posted on: Mon 06 Sep 2010

Zat Knight says he is 'over the moon' to see his defensive colleague Gary Cahill earn his first England cap

Cahill explained that he was 'buzzing' after making his senior debut against Bulgaria, and Knight knows exactly how the 24-year-old felt having played for England himself against USA and Colombia back in 2005.

Knight said: "I'm over the moon for Gary because he has fully deserved that cap, and I'm not just saying that because he is one of my mates.

"I bet he has received a million and one messages to congratulate him, but I haven't phoned or texted him yet - I will wait until I see him considering that I'm with him almost every day!

"He has shown how determined he is having been named in plenty of other squads but now he has got what he really wanted and his hard work has paid off. Hopefully it is the first of many."

Zat Knight Gary Cahill

Next up for Wanderers is a testing trip to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Owen Coyle won't be able to call upon the services of suspended goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, meaning Adam Bogdan is set to make his first start in the Barclays Premier League.

And Knight says that the defence have an important role to play in helping the Hungarian stopper to continue his impressive form from previous appearances against Southampton and Birmingham.

The former Fulham man added: "Since Ali went to Wigan then Adam has really stepped up his game because he realises that he is number two behind Jussi and that anything can happen. Now he has an opportunity to show the manager what he can do.

"Unfortunately for him he is going to be up against one of the best teams in the Premier League so as a defence then we will need to help him out.

"It is going to be a tough challenge for everyone, not just Adam, so we all need to be on top of our game because they have scored quite a few goals in their opening games.

Adam Bogdan

"But we are confident after our start and I believe that every club aside from Chelsea has looked beatable this season.

"We will go down there and have a go and we have shown that we have plenty of fighting spirit. We were unlucky there last season and if we make it hard for Arsenal then I believe that we have a chance of coming away with something."

The Wanderers players who haven't been away on international duty were given an extra few days of rest last week following their encouraging start to the campaign.

And after the short time away from the club, Knight was delighted to once again be back amongst his team-mates as they prepare for a difficult run of games in September which includes successive away trips to Arsenal, Aston Villa and Burnley before Manchester United visit the Reebok at the end of the month.

Knight concluded: "Training was great today. It can work both ways after a break but everyone was eager to get back out there to kick the ball again.

"I think the break came at the right time. We've had our just rewards because we've got five points and played well in all three games.

"It was an opportunity for the manager to give us a break because he realises we have had a tough pre-season, our training is intense on a day-to-day basis and we have given our all since we came back after summer.

"Hopefully the boys will all be recharged because we have got a tough month of fixtures coming up."