Mike savouring Swans run

Mike van der Hoorn is loving life in Carlos Carvalhal’s back three as the Dutchman enjoys his best spell at Swansea City.

The big central defender made only eight Premier League appearances last season after joining the Swans in the summer of 2016.

But van der Hoorn has made a major step forward this term, and featured for the 18th time in 2017-18 as the Swans beat Arsenal in midweek.

And the former Ajax man admits he is savouring his run in the side.

“I didn’t play a lot last season and sometimes I wasn’t in the squad,” van der Hoorn said.

“It was a frustrating time, but we stayed up and that was the main thing.

“This season I feel more involved and I believe I am getting better and stronger. I feel like I deserve my place in the team.

“The system with three centre-backs and the full-backs has worked well. We are compact but we have an outlet on the flanks.

“There is good communication between us, and if anyone makes a mistake a team-mate will cover you.”

After famous wins over Liverpool and Arsenal, the Swans go in search of more points at Leicester this weekend.

And van der Hoorn says Carvalhal’s side are not about to ease off just because they have chalked up a couple of eye-catching results.

“We have had two very big wins in a row so we are very satisfied,” he added.

“It’s a massive boost for us, but we won’t rest on these results.

“We have a very important game this weekend against Leicester, and the focus now is on that.

“For every club going to Leicester is hard, so it will be no different for us. But we go there with confidence because we have put together a good run.”