|
He played against us for Sheffield United during the 2007/08 season but his only return to the Turf so far has been for the England Under-20 team. Ahead of the Boxing Day clash he said: "Burnley are a club who gave me my first chance and built my career really, or started my career for me. They gave me a chance and I took the chance.
"I've got very fond memories, it was brilliant, and it will strange for me playing against Burnley. To be fair the team has changed a lot since I was there; Brian Jensen, Michael Duff and Robbie Blake, so in that sense it won't be too strange. It was a great club and I enjoyed my spell there.
"It was Steve Cotterill who took a chance on me. It took great bottle from him and I owe him a lot. I liked him and I got on well with him. He brought my career on and I got thirty odd games in which helped my career no end.
"Steve Cotterill said to me when I got there that it was a 'sink or swim' scenario. Thankfully it went well for me there and I got on with everyone and the manager was brilliant. He played me every game I was fit."
Speaking about playing alongside John McGreal, Cahill added: "It was very much the old and the new partnership, and I don't think he'll mind me saying it. I learned a lot off him and he encouraged me and told me things that I needed to know.
"The partnership went really well, I thought we played really well together. I enjoyed playing with him and it is always good when you come into it fresh and you are playing next to someone who has been there and played hundreds of games. It helps you a lot and I enjoyed it."