Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal has vowed to give youngster Renato Sanches a more prominent role in his team following the Portuguese midfielder's move to the Liberty Stadium in the summer.

Sanches, who joined on loan for the season from Bayern Munich, has only made three appearances while failing to score or provide an assist.

The midfielder last featured for the Swans against Chelsea in November, but new boss Carvalhal has said that he will offer the Portuguese more involvement in the New Year.

"I think [Sanches] needs confidence," he said at his pre-match press conference. "It is easy to forget because he has played for Benfica and the Portuguese national team that he is still only a kid.

"He is still learning and I think he needs a role in the team. With time he will understand all the different roles the players have in the team.

"But he will be involved in the dynamic and, when he understands what we want, he will be a completely different player. We believe that."

Swansea are five points adrift of Premier League safety ahead of Saturday's tie with Watford.