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Swansea City head into tonight's clash with Wigan looking to build on their emphatic win over QPR, and with a number of individuals looking to continue their morale-boosting form.

While several of the younger members of Graham Potter's squad have deservedly stolen the headlines for much of the season to date, the revival in fortunes for some of the more-established members of the squad has also been notable.

Among that number are Tom Carroll and Kyle Naughton, both of whom played prominent roles in the win over QPR.

The pair struggled for confidence and consistency during last season's campaign-long battle with the drop, but look to be heading in the right direction under the new regime.

Carroll had looked capable of being a key figure when he performed brilliantly on his second Swansea debut at Liverpool in January 2017, while he would go on to score a crucial goal against Stoke in the great escape under Paul Clement.

But a tangible fear gripped his game last term, with the former Tottenham man so wary of making mistakes that his safety-first approach ended up with him being jeered from the field when replaced against Brighton.

The man who was handed the responsibility of a deep-lying midfield place in the 4-1-4-1 shape utilised at the weekend looked very different to the haunted player who had left the Liberty pitch a little over 12 months previously.

It would be great for all concerned if that display can mark a springboard for the rest of the season.

And Potter feels the work being done to return Swansea to a style of play that suits the playing staff at the club's disposal is helping some of the older heads start to turn a corner.

"Tom is a talented player and you have to appreciate he’s not played in a good environment in the last few years," said Potter.

"I know he’s faced some criticism from the outside which is part of the job. In terms of looking for a person to represent Swansea City, I don’t think the supporters will get a better guy.

"He’s a good bloke to have around, always works hard, wants to be here, and with Tom he needs to understand how he best fits into the group and team. He’s better playing deeper and being involved more, but his attitude is brilliant.

"Relegation is bound to affect confidence in some way, but he’s managed to keep a level of professionalism and work and effort.

"Relegation impacts everybody. If it didn’t you’d have to ask why you’re doing this.

"You’re disappointed and frustrated because you haven’t played well for a long time. You want to enjoy your football. It’s not so easy when you're losing. But I think Tom is making steps, he’s improving, and we’re happy with him.

"Most players in the world are better with confidence. We’re all the same. We have to find the right role for Tom because I’m sure he has the quality to help us in a big way.

"I thought he came on against Millwall and put in a great pass and a cross. He took responsibility there and contributed a lot.

"The thing for Tom is that as the playing style has eroded here, it hasn’t helped him. It’s left him without a reference over how to play and we’re trying to get that back."

The huge summer overhaul Swansea underwent has heralded something of a changing of the guard at the Liberty, and that is shown by the number of players who have made their debuts this season.

Nine players at Swansea prior to Potter's arrival have had their first-team bow in the form of Erwin Mulder, Brandon Cooper, Cian Harries, Liam Cullen, George Byers, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Yan Dhanda, Joe Rodon and Tyler Reid, while Dan James has been among those given a league debut.

Add in new arrivals Bersant Celina, Joel Asoro, Barrie McKay, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Declan John and the figure climbs to 14.

Even for a man renowned for his work with young players at higher education level and while at Ostersunds, it's a number that comes as a surprise to the 43-year-old.

And Potter will have no hesitation in continuing to develop those players for the longer-term, even if those decisions may not be the obvious route to take in terms of his own personal short-term outlook at Swansea manager.

In Potter's view, the aspirations of the club and the players have to come before his own, with the decision to leave Joe Rodon out of his side at Stoke being a prime example.

“I haven’t counted the number of debutants but it is a bit of a new one for me,” he said.

“But it is nice as a coach to be able to do that. It means other young players at the club see there is a chance for them.

“They can look at it and say ‘I can play, train, play well for the Under 23s and there is a pathway for me’.

“I think that’s good for a club of our size and where we are given the strategic decisions we’ve made regarding our academy. The challenge for the coaches is to take the young players and get results.

“I have had a lot of experience of working with players in the 18-24 age group (Potter previously worked in higher education at Hull University and Leeds Beckett). You see how much change can happen within that age group. That’s an interesting thing for me. It is a fine line because ultimately you have to get results.

“If you look at the life span of a football manager here, and then you talk about development, you understand you haven’t got a lot of time to wait.

“My point has always been to make the right decisions for the long term future of the football club, not necessarily for Graham Potter.

“If I am not around to see the benefit of some of the decisions I’ve made then that’s life. You have to make the right decisions. You have to support young players.

“For example, Joe Rodon missed the Stoke game but not because he had done anything wrong.

“He had done everything right in many ways, but it is my responsibility to look after him.

“We want him to have a career at the top end of the game and be a Welsh international, so what he does at this point in his career is important.”