Tom Carroll will flourish at Swansea City with a little tender, loving care, according to manager Carlos Carvalhal.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been a target for fans’ frustrations in recent weeks – criticism that reached a new level of intensity in the 2-0 defeat to his old club on Tuesday.
Carroll was booed and jeered repeatedly by some supporters at the Liberty Stadium and the 25-year-old appeared affected by the treatment as he sought to offload possession with minimal risks.
Carvalhal acknowledged he was aware of the problems Carroll was facing, but suggested he has faith in the former England U21 player to rediscover his best form – and may be tempted to start him in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Wolves.
“When confidence is down for the players, it is like watering a flower,” said Carvalhal. “You have to go one-by-one to help that quality improve.
“Tom with a bit more water and sun we will see the value of him because he is a good player. We trust him to do that, and we need him to do that.
“Tom played well in the first game against Watford. He was not bad, he was okay, in the second game but not at the levels of the first game,” added the Portuguese, who has said he will rest a number of players including goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for the Cup tie.
“But not all players are able to play at the same level when they play every three days. I felt three or four players were more tired after playing a number of games at high intensity and Tottenham were fresh.
“It is as much about the mental side as the physical side, the players will run and fight but it’s about thinking to take the better decision and react quickly. It makes a massive difference and it is less if you are not fresh.
“Tom, in that moment, felt it a little more which is absolutely normal. It can happen.”
