Steven Caulker issues Swansea City top 10 challenge

Steven Caulker is an England under-21 international

Steven Caulker has challenged his Swansea City team-mates to maintain their current top 10 Premier League status until the end of the season.

The Swans climbed back into the top half of the table as Caulker inspired a second away win this season with a 2-1 triumph at West Bromwich Albion.

Swansea were targeting survival in a debut Premier League season but Caulker thinks the Welsh club must aim higher.

"We are looking higher than just avoiding relegation," said Caulker.

"We want to finish in the top half of the table so we'll take the three points from West Brom and continue to move forward."

The England under-21 international defender has, alongside impressive centre-half partner Ashley Williams, helped Brendan Rodgers' team keep nine clean sheets this season while Swansea boast the second tightest home defence in the top-flight.

The 20-year-old joined Swansea on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur after Swansea's promotion to the Premier League and Caulker is quickly establishing himself a reputation as a dependable centre-back.

Caulker and Williams have helped provide Rodgers a solid defensive foundation to allow Swansea impose their slick passing and possession game that has impressed rivals and earned the team 30 points already with 14 games remaining.

Swansea are 10 points clear of the relegation zone and Caulker believes the club should be looking up rather than down after a good run of just one defeat in seven games.

"We have been in good form of late and we want to continue that," said Caulker.

Swansea's style has been widely admired this season but Caulker praised their grit as the Swans, who had the worst away record in the top-flight this term ahead of Saturday's win, battled back from going a goal down to winning at The Hawthorns.

Marc-Antoine Fortune had given the Baggies the lead before Gylfi Sigurdsson and Danny Graham led a fine comeback in the snow at West Brom.

"We needed some resilience," said Caulker.

"The back four did well as while we conceded a goal, we kept them at bay for a long time and it was part of a good team performance."

Swansea host Norwich City, another newly-promoted team, on Saturday as Rodgers' men bid to protect their impressive record at the Liberty Stadium as the Swans have only lost to reigning champions Manchester United at home this season.

"Our home form has been terrific so the boys are really confident we can get a result," said Caulker.