Tottenham old boy Tom Carroll admits it will be a strange sensation trying to dent his former club's Premier League title hopes on Wednesday.

Carroll cut Tottenham ties stretching back 16 years when he joined Swansea in a £4.5million move in January.

The 24-year-old, who was part of a Spurs squad which mounted a strong title push last season, said: "It will feel a bit strange for me playing them because I was there from the age of eight.

"Even though I have had loan spells, including here at Swansea, obviously you are not allowed to play against your parent club.

"But I am looking forward to it because it is such an important game.

"They are pushing for the title and we are fighting ourselves. Anything can happen at this time of year.

"We have seen a fair few times that the sides at the top of the table can be upset, and we will be looking to do that ourselves having done it against Liverpool."

Former England Under-21 midfielder Carroll made his Spurs debut at the age of 19, but he found it difficult to establish himself as a first-team regular.

Over half of his 25 starts came in the Europa League and he had various loan spells, including a successful stay at Swansea in the 2014-15 season, to gain first-team experience.

Carroll featured in exactly half of Tottenham's 38 Premier League games last season, albeit making only four starts for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

But he feels Spurs are ready to challenge for the major trophies on a regular basis.

"Knowing the manager there I am sure he will be telling the lads the title race is very much on," Carroll said.

"Last year was a good year for them, they were close and they have top-class players.

"They are one of the teams who are good enough to be knocking on the door every year.

"Ideally, we would take three points off them on Wednesday - because that is the most important thing for me - and then they go on and win it."

Carroll has settled quickly in his second spell at Swansea, playing all nine games since rejoining the club under Paul Clement's charge.

He provided crosses for Fernando Llorente to score in crucial wins over Liverpool and Burnley and has helped Swansea climb one point and one place outside the relegation zone.

"I have loved it here," Carroll said. "I am improving as a player every week and I have been happy with some of my performances.

"I realise there is a lot of improving to do, but it has been good.

"At the start of January we were rock bottom, so we have come a long way under the new gaffer.

"We have picked up a lot of points and we are looking forward to finishing the job."