Steven Caulker is keen to repay the faith his new boss Andre Villas-Boas has shown in him by starting the young defender in Tottenham’s last four Premier League matches.

Caulker starred in Spurs' 3-2 victory at Old Trafford and the 2-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend, in which the defender scored.

The 20-year-old has spent three seasons on loan, and was deemed not ready for first team football under his previous manager Harry Redknapp. This season however, Caulker has been selected as the replacement for the injured Younes Kaboul, rising above experienced centre back Michael Dawson in the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

In August, Caulker was included in the England squad for a friendly against Italy, and over the summer the defender was part of Team GB at the London Olympics.

“I have played in a few games now and my confidence is up.

“The main thing now is that I'm going into the international break having played in the team,” he said.

The 20-year-old is now looking to cement his international career, following comments from AVB and assistant Steffen Freund tipping him to be a future England star.

“To hear that from the boss is fantastic.

“You always have to have that self belief that you can go all the way. That is what I am in the game for,” he added.