Tottenham Hotspur defender Steven Caulker has said that he is ready to battle for a place in the starting lineup.

The 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Swansea City, penned a new contract yesterday, which will see him remain at White Hart Lane until 2016.

"I will have to work hard this year," Caulker told Spurs TV Online. "There are some fantastic centre-halves so it's not going to be an easy ride but I have confidence and hopefully with a bit of hard work it will pay off.

"I have been here since I was 15. I worked my way through and hopefully this is the year I get my opportunity and it's up to me to take it. The club have supported me in the last four or five years so now it's down to me pay them back.

"Last year Tottenham were the most exciting team to watch so to be part of that this year, especially under a new manager, is something I relish."

Caulker is a part of Stuart Pearce's Team GB squad for this summer's Olympics.