Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has hinted that he would not have allowed Steven Caulker to leave the club under his watch.

The Cardiff City defender left Spurs in the summer after failing to receive assurances from then Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas that he would be guaranteed first-team football.

The 22-year-old returns to White Hart Lane this afternoon with the Bluebirds, and Sherwood is all too familiar with Caulker's potential having previously coached the centre-back at youth level.

He told Sky Sports News: "He (Caulker) wanted game time and more than the previous manager would guarantee him.

"The club decided they would let the player go and they think they had a good deal. It is up to Steven to build on that and prove the club were wrong to let him go.

"He wanted to go and play. The only thing I could have done is say 'you will play more football'."

Caulker's form for the South Welsh outfit has resulted in a recall for England as Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson named him in his squad for this week's friendly with Denmark.