Tottenham Hotspur defender Steven Caulker is delighted to have caught manager Andre Villas-Boas’ eye and is thankful for the chance to shine at the club.
The youngster was loaned off to Swansea City last season to ensure more playing time and help him adapt to the Premier League as it was difficult to break into the Spurs first team set up.
This was not Caulker’s first loan spell; the player had previously served season-long loans at Yeovil Town and Bristol City as he worked on his development.
Caulker impressed during his loan spell with the Swans last season, and returned to White Hart Lane this summer. Following Younes Kaboul’s injury, the player was thrust into the Spurs first team, and has vindicated Villas-Boas’ decision to start him in recent
weeks.
The manager’s faith was repaid when Caulker put in a series of impressive defensive performances at the back, pairing alongside club captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Dawson-c25288 in the pecking order,
and helped him break into the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 back in August.
Caulker also featured in the London 2012 Olympics, and was one of the bright prospects that Team Great Britain fielded out.
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was criticised for not giving the club’s youth products a chance to play and show their worth, and was let go of by chairman http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-c9879 Levy during the summer. It was clear that both men did not see eye-to-eye on a lot
of matters, and the appointment of Villas-Boas soon followed.
The Portuguese manager has demonstrated a great deal of faith in the club’s youth, and Caulker feels he has a good shot at becoming a first team regular this season under Villas-Boas.
"You want to know that if you are playing well and you are training well you will be in the team," Caulker said.
"It's not nice when there are favourites, I think AVB has brought that into the team and I am happy. The manager has come in, he's brought a few youngsters in, myself included, and he has pushed a few of us forward.”
"When I came back he said I was in his plans, so I have to trust that and be patient and so far it has worked well. I have played in a few games now and my confidence is up."
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