Swansea boss Garry Monk has acknowledged Tom Carroll’s similarity to Luka Modric after the Tottenham midfielder joined the Welsh club on a season-long loan.
The 22-year-old is in line to make his debut in the Swans’ League Cup tie against Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
Carroll, an England Under-21 international, has made 23 appearances for Spurs and enjoyed loan spells at Leyton Orient, Derby County and QPR.
And Monk has seen enough of his new signing to understand why Carroll has been likened to Real Madrid playmaker Modric.
He said: "I can see why people say that about him and Modric.
"A lot of people will talk about the strength side of the game but it's something we believe in here.
"We've shown over the years with Leon [Britton] and Joe Allen that if you pass the ball quickly and move quickly it doesn't matter about the physical side of the game.
"He can improve on that side, but he suits our philosophy and I think he can show what a good footballer he is and we believe he is."
Monk continued: "He's a very good footballer who will very much suit us.
"We've watched him, done our analysis over the years, seen him at Spurs and a lot of him at QPR.
"I've spoken to a lot of people who have trained with him and coached him and they speak very highly of him.
"He can show that good side of football we need because he's good with the ball.
"He can pass and move and get himself in good positions and I think he'll offer us another option.”
Gareth Southgate's Under-21s are in Euro qualifying action next month with an away double header against Lithuania and Moldova.
