Gary Cahill's 'heart is still in Chelsea' as Olivier Giroud urges defender to stay

Olivier Giroud has urged Gary Cahill to see his contract out at Chelsea and leave at the end of the season.

Cahill revealed last week that he hopes to find a new club in January – five months before his deal expires - after growing frustrated over a lack of first team football.

The England international finally made his first appearance of the season at West Ham on Sunday but only because Antonio Rudiger limped off with a suspected groin injury.

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But Giroud believes Cahill, who has won six trophies in as many years at Chelsea, still has a big role to play as the club look to claim more silverware this term.

Giroud said: “I think his heart is still in Chelsea and hopefully we will keep him because we need him. He needs to be happy, that is the main thing, but I hope he stays because he is important for us.

“He is a very good player. He’s been at Chelsea for six years, he is one of the faces of Chelsea and one of our captains. We need him."

However, Giroud sympathises with Cahill, who is feeling frustrated having fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

New coach Maurizio Sarri has made David Luiz and Rudiger his first choice partnership in central defence, while youngsters Andreas Christensen and Ethan Ampadu are also highly rated and wanting game time.

Giroud added: “We have a lot of good players who can play in the starting XI. The problem is we have four-five centre backs and the coach made his choice.

“Gary is not in a good position because it is quite tough for him, he doesn’t play so much. I understand that he wants to play more. At one stage I was the same and I didn’t like that. As players, we are happy when we are on the pitch. “

Meanwhile, midfielder Cesc Fabregas is aiming to make a major impact for the Blues after missing the first month of the campaign with a knee injury.

Fabregas returned as a substitute against PAOK Salonika last week and is expected to start against Liverpool in the Carabao cup Third Round tomorrow night.

He said: “It is great to be back. Football is what I love the most to do in my life and I missed it a lot. No-one likes to be out of the pitch and see the rest of the team play. But I had to be patient.

“It (the knee injury) was apparently something that should have kept me out for only 10-15 days and it took longer than it should. I’m really happy because I struggled a little bit. I didn’t expect it to be that long.

“It was especially hard for me. I’m at home, I’m only thinking about this, I’m sad. My family is the one that paid for it the most.

“It’s (being injured) the thing we dislike the most as football players – we just want to train, keep fit and play games, especially with the team doing well. I just want to be part of it and hopefully now it is the start of a very long and good season for me and the team.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek isn’t going to be involved against Liverpool in the League Cup after reaggravating a foot problem sustained while playing for England.

Chelsea hope Pedro (shoulder) and Rudiger will be able to resume training before the end of the week so they can be in contention to face Liverpool in the League on Saturday.