England international defender Gary Cahill believes that his success with Chelsea last season helped him earn a place in the national team.

The 26-year-old centre-back joined the Blues from Bolton Wanderers in January 2012 and played an important role in their Champions league triumph in May.

"I think the Champions League success with Chelsea, the wins over Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have helped me, have progressed me and given me the experience of playing in those games," Cahill is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"Before that, there was always that question mark above my head because of where I'd come from and I'd not played in those sort of games.

"People were saying 'can he play in those situations, in those sort of games?' It has made me more hungry to be part of those games, but experience wise, coming to England, which is top of the tree, it will help me going forward."

Cahill is part of the England squad currently preparing for their 2014 World Cup qualifier against Moldova away from home on Friday.