Tottenham's Swansea City loan signing Steve Caulker admits he thought his career was over at 15.
Caulker, 19, has been capped by England at Youth and Under-21 level, but has yet to step onto the Premier League stage at Spurs.
He revealed: "I went for a lot of trials, but I was never called back. My 16th birthday wasn't far away and I got frightened that I was going to miss out - then Tottenham rescued me!"
Caulker will now realise that dream with Swansea, where he has gone on a season-long loan.
He said: "I'm not here at the Liberty Stadium just to get that Premier League experience - I play with my heart on my sleeve, whoever I play for.
"A lot of people will be writing us off, but I feel we've got a real chance - and not just of staying up, but really making an impact."
