NEW loan signing Tom Carroll has been told by former Derby County favourite Tom Huddlestone that he will enjoy his time with the Rams.

Carroll has joined Derby from Tottenham Hotspur for the rest of the season and the 19-year-old midfielder is in line to make his debut in the Championship clash against Barnsley at Oakwell tonight (7.45pm).

Huddlestone came through the system at Derby and made 95 appearances before he signed for Spurs in 2005.

Carroll spoke to Huddlestone about his loan move.

"Tom said Derby is a massive club with passionate fans and that I would enjoy it here," said Carroll, who has played seven times for Tottenham in various cup competitions this season, including the Europa League.

The Watford-born youngster also had a taste of first-team football during a loan spell at Leyton Orient last season where he made 14 appearances.

He is looking forward to this new challenge and hopes to help Derby push for the play-offs.

"I have had a few games this season at Tottenham which has been a great experience for me and I enjoyed it," said Carroll.

"I was at Leyton Orient last season which was a valuable lesson in competitive football and I really enjoyed that.

"This is the next step up and I am looking forward to it.

"Derby are in form in the Championship and I think they have a great chance of making the play-offs.

"It's great for my confidence that Nigel Clough wanted to bring me here on loan.

"I have come here to hopefully play first-team football. So it will be great if I can get a few games at a massive club like this."

Carroll is described as a left-footed central midfielder who likes to get on the ball and makes himself available to receive a pass.

Derby have been keeping tabs on the player after watching him in a Carling Cup tie against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium earlier this season.

The Stoke team that night included nine players who featured against Derby in the FA Cup at the weekend.

"Tom played in central midfield," said manager Nigel Clough, "and he wasn't overawed or intimidated by Stoke. He got the ball down and played it, and we have kept an eye on him since then.

"He is a good little player. He's only young and looks even younger. He's actually the only person in the building who weighs less than [coach] Gary Crosby!

"Tottenham feel he is going to be a big player for them in the future.

"He is a playmaker. He's got a lovely left foot and wants the ball."

Carroll will wear number 19.