Loan special - Tom's target

Tom Carroll is determined to show his worth in the Premier League during this season's loan at Swansea.

And the midfielder is certainly going about it the right way with a fine performance in Swansea’s 2-1 win against Arsenal last time out.

Tom progressed through loan spells at Leyton Orient and Derby to make 14 appearances for us in 2012-13, including seven appearances in the Premier League.

He played 26 times for QPR as they gained promotion from the Championship last season and now he’s back out on loan again, in the top flight and looking to progress again.

“I’ve played a few games and obviously started against Arsenal, which I was delighted about, playing against a team like that and getting a victory was massive,” said Tom, who captained England Under-21s in France on Monday.

“I feel fine in the Premier League. It’s the level everyone wants to play at and I’ve come out on loan to try and prove myself and hopefully with the performance against Arsenal, I’ve proved that I can be a Premier League player and showed everyone what I can do.”

If selected, he’ll have another chance to do just that this weekend as Swansea travel to champions Manchester City, where Tom could face a match-up with Yaya Toure.

“Yaya Toure is a world-class player, a powerful player but that doesn’t affect how I go into the game or how I prepare, it’s the same really," he said.

“On the ball you have to do the normal things and that’s to get on the ball and move it. Of course, off the ball it’s a challenge. You have to maintain a defensive shape and make sure everyone does their jobs.

“We know it will be tough but hopefully we’ll come away with something.”