Gary Cahill is very reliable for Chelsea and England... when the football is simple, says Tony Cascarino

England's three-man defence suits Gary Cahill as the Chelsea defender is "very reliable when the football is simple," says former Blues player Tony Cascarino.

The centre-back was handed the captain's armband but could not prevent the Three Lions going down to a 30-yard winner from Lukas Podolski in a 1-0 loss in Germany on Wednesday evening.

Gareth Southgate, his first game in charge since being appointed manager on a permanent basis, opted for a new tactical approach for the trip to Dortmund and England dominated for long periods of the game.

Cascarino feels Cahill benefits from the system, his inferior pace not as exposed, but goalkeeper Joe Hart's struggles with the ball at his feet came as no surprise.

"Playing three at the back suited Gary Cahill but not Joe Hart," Cascarino wrote in the Times.

"The Chelsea defender is not at his most reliable when turned but he is not as exposed when in the system so favoured by his club manager, Antonio Conte. Cahill is very reliable when the football is simple.

"The three-man defence seemed to encourage Hart to operate as a sweeper keeper but he is not good enough to dwell on the ball.

"This is not to argue that the new system requires Southgate to drop Hart, but he should tell him to get back to basics.

"England do not a have natural sweeper-keeper so they can stick with Hart as long as he cuts down on the risk-taking."

England are next in action on Sunday, hosting Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.