JIMMY-FLOYD Hasselbaink is ready to give as good as he gets when he comes up against John Terry this afternoon - someone he tips to become the next England captain.

Terry, the Chelsea skipper, is renowned for his hard-line approach to the defensive game and Hasselbaink expects exactly the same from the centre-back today.

The pair spent four years together, when they came up against one another every day on the training field at Stamford Bridge, before the Dutchman was allowed to leave for Middlesbrough on a free transfer in the summer of 2004.

Since then Terry has gone on to lift the Blues' first championship trophy in 50 years and Hasselbaink feels that is the type of honour the player deserves to be receiving on a regular basis.

"I think John Terry will come looking for me. Knowing John he will. He's brilliant. In a few years time, when David Beckham stops, he'll be the next England captain. I totally respect him. A no-nonsense defender, likes to do his job," said Hasselbaink.

"I'm not worried about what he'll try to do to me because I know him through and through and vice-versa. He knows that even if he does something I won't say anything but he will expect something back.

"That's the respect we have for each other; if we didn't play hard against each other I don't think he'd respect me in the way he does and vice-versa. He's definitely one of best defenders around."

Hasselbaink is honest enough to admit that, despite being grateful for the chance to join Boro when he did, he would have loved to have remained with Chelsea at a time rapid progress was being made.

Roman Abramovich's billions have helped manager Jose Mourinho construct a squad capable of competing for the most coveted trophies for years to come - something the 33-year-old wishes he had been around for.

And Hasselbaink feels the rest of the Premiership will have to learn to live with Chelsea heading the pile in England as he predicts that will be the status quo for a long time yet.

"Chelsea are the club to be at," he said. "Everyone wants to play for them. It's not just about the money, it's where the club is going. They're challenging for everything.

"It's a great club in a great city and the time I spent at Stamford Bridge was the best of my entire career. They took me to their heart and made me feel at home. They loved me and that felt great. Four great years.

"It wasn't nice when I was shown the door but in football you just come and go. It's one of those things. I would have preferred them to say 'finish your career here'. It wasn't meant to be and you have to move on."

It was the installation of Mourinho into the manager's chair on the King's Road that proved the end of Hasselbaink's days in west London.

But, although insistent that the former Porto coach made the wrong decision on that score, the Boro striker still has the highest respect for the Chelsea boss.

"He's brilliant. He just says how it is and there aren't a lot like him around," said Hasselbaink, aiming to maintain the form that has seen him score in five of his last six appearances.

"When I speak to players they say he's brilliant, even the ones sitting on the bench. And that doesn't happen a lot. A few normally won't like the manager. I've not heard one say he's poor.

"I don't feel any grudges. He made his decision, although I think it was the wrong one. That's his opinion. The only thing I can hold against him is that he didn't speak to me. That may be the only thing I can be sad about. The rest no. He made his point clear. Peter Kenyon phoned my agent.

"I believe it was the wrong decision because I think I would still bring something to that team. I definitely think I would have scored a lot of goals, especially in that team."