Published: 27 September, 2012
OFF THE SHELF with DAN CARRIER

ASSISTANT manager and Spurs legend Steffen Freund has called on England manager Roy Hodgson to run the rule over Spurs’ rookie Steven Caulker.

Caulker, who came on as a half time substitute during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over QPR, was impressive last season on loan at Swansea and now looks to be a regular in Andre Villas-Boas’s new look Tottenham.

Freund said that with John Terry retiring from international duty he expects Caulker, 21, to get some game time in the World Cup qualifiers.

“It’s definitely possible he could step in for Terry,” said Freund. “He is similar to Terry. He has already been called up for the national side and he’s definitely one of best centre halves in England. He is like a rock in the defence, he’s very tall and strong, and is difficult to beat in a one-on-one situation. He’s very talented and wants to improve every game.

“John Terry was a great centre half for England, but Steven Caulker is one for the future.”

Meanwhile, rumours are flying that popular backroom staffer and ex-Spur, Tim Sherwood, is being headhunted for the Blackburn Rovers job. Despite being a big fan of Sherwood, chairman Daniel Levy would find it hard to stand in the way of the coach returning to the club where the won the league title in 1995.

It has also reported that development coach Alex Inglethorpe could be a target for Wolves.