61-cap England international the perfect “voice in the changing rooms” to replace Goldson

It might seem a touch hypocritical to, on one hand, say that we shouldn’t offer new contracts to veterans like Allan McGregor and Steven Davis but offer one to a current fee agent who has just been released by their club, there is a caveat though.

IF and it’s a big if, hence the capital letters, Connor Goldson leaves, we will need to replace not only his quality on the pitch but also the leadership he brings in and around the changing rooms and there are few better centre-halves available at the moment than Gary Cahill who has just been released by Premier League bound Bournemouth.

At 36-years old, Cahill is younger than Davie Weir was when he moved back up to Scotland and he didn’t have the pace that Cahill had at the peak of his powers, he also hadn’t played at the same level as the 61-cap England international with two Europa League and one Champions League winner’s’medals in his back pocket.

“He’s that voice in the changing rooms,” Cherries manager, Scott Parker told DorsetLive only a couple of months ago. “Whether he’s playing or not playing. He’s got vast experience and he can be a massive part in terms of getting us over the line.”

And he proved to be just that as they got back to the top flight at the first time of asking, Cahill playing an important role in the first part of the season starting in 22 games before losing his place after being sent off against Barnsley at the end of January, unfortunately for him, Bournemouth then went on a run of positive results losing just once in nine games and he was unable to force his way back into the team.

He’s had no injury problems this past season and is exactly the type of centre-half we need, can handle himself physically but is also good in possession, you don’t get to the level he did and play for some of the best managers around if you can’t play out from the back.

This isn’t the sort of signing I’d advocate if Goldson signs a new contract but as a partner for Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun, Filip Helander, John Souttar or Leon King, he’d be perfect, – it’s not a move I think will happen, under Steven Gerrard maybe, but he certainly won’t be short of offers.