Tuesday 24 October 2017 13:12, UK
Paul Clement believes Roque Mesa has a long-term future at Swansea after confirming that the Spaniard will start Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie against Manchester United.
The £11m summer signing joined on a four-year deal from Las Palmas, where his pass completion rate of 91.4% was ranked the fourth highest in La Liga last season.
But, the 28-year-old has only started once in the Premier league, against United in a 4-0 home defeat in August, and raised question marks over his future during an interview over the weekend.
Mesa told Spanish publication Estadio Deportivo that he could return home "if within two months I continue without having minutes", although he said on his official Twitter account on Monday that he would not surrender.
When he was asked about Mesa's long-term future, Clement replied: "Absolutely, that will be very much judged on how he performs over time.
"That is the same with all the players, they sign contracts, in his case a long-term contract, and we want him here for that period.
"The kind of player he is, knowing the style and culture he has come from, I understand La Liga and the intensity there compared to this league.
"It is very different, he added. "But he is making gradual adjustments to his game and I am sure we are going to see some of those things."
Mesa's last appearance at the Liberty Stadium came as a substitute in the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Watford last month.
His mistake led to the Hornets' last-minute winner, but Clement said that goal had nothing to do with absence from recent matchday squads.
"Some people have questioned why he is not playing, but it was not because of the mistake against Watford," Clement said.
"He has been getting up to speed with things and I have told him he is going to start against United.
"He has been training hard and he deserves a chance in the team."
