LONDON -- Gary Cahill remains of "big value" to Chelsea and will not be leaving the club in the January transfer window, says interim manager Guus Hiddink, who also confirmed young defender Matt Miazga will be staying at Stamford Bridge this season.
This week, Reuters reported the 30-year-old had resigned himself to departing Stamford Bridge in a bid to safeguard his Euro 2016 place with England, having fallen below club captain John Terry and Kurt Zouma in Chelsea's central defensive pecking order since Hiddink succeeded Jose Mourinho in December.
Cahill signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea last month and while Hiddink revealed that he has spoken to the England international in recent days about his situation, the Dutchman is adamant that the Blues will not be selling a man he considers one of the club's "key players."
"He is of big value and will prove that in the upcoming time," Hiddink said of Cahill. "Of course if players are not playing frequently then they must get a bit frustrated, and I talked to him a few days ago about his situation.
"I like to do that with my key players and that's what he is. He's not to be considered one of the 'second two' [centre-backs]. He is of big importance and will be in the upcoming games.
"He was very open and very clear that he loves to play with this club. He's very happy here but of course not playing, there's a little frustration. That's normal. I like his attitude in training very much. He never gives up and there was no hint from this side [that he wants to leave]."
Chelsea are set to add to their defensive ranks with the signing of 20-year-old Miazga from the New York Red Bulls, and Hiddink confirmed that the United States international will be part of the first-team squad -- taking the slot vacated by Papy Djilobodji, who joined Werder Bremen on loan earlier this month -- rather than heading out on loan for the rest of the season.
"We don't rush him but he will be one of the squad members for the future," Hiddink said of Miazga. "He's a young guy stepping up to the national team and it's always good to have such players here so you can see what they are capable of in training.
"He's a young player, a promising player -- let's see if he can get himself to the high demands of this club and the Premier League."