PAGE ALLAYS ALLEN FEARS
ROB Page has allayed concerns over Joe Allen’s hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old was withdrawn in the opening half of Wales’s 1-1 draw against Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday night after pulling up.
Allen did not travel to Rotterdam for Wales’s final June fixture against the Netherlands last night, with the Narberth-born free agent set to undergo a scan.
But Wales boss Page does not believe that the injury will hamper Allen’s prospects of finding himself a new club this summer amid interest from Swansea City. “He’s as fit as a fiddle,” said Page. “We don’t even believe it’s a grade one.
“Personally I don’t think anything will show up on the scan.
“I’m just using my common sense here, it’s pointless taking him (to Rotterdam).
“I’ve got Dylan Levitt, Matt Smith, Ethan (Ampadu), why would I risk him?
“There’s a lot of fatigue in his legs, he’s had a tough season in the Championship and a lot of miles in his legs so there’s no benefit in taking him and risking him.
“I want him to go and get himself sorted out from a club point of view, have a good pre-season and make sure he’s ready for September.”
Allen played a pivotal role as Wales defeated Ukraine 1-0 to book their place at the World Cup in Qatar. But he is now set for a short break ahead of the 2022-23 season, with the Championship campaign set to start on July 30.
And when asked if Swansea were an option for Allen, Page, who confirmed the midfielder will be in his World Cup squad later
this year, commented: “Any club is an option for him. He’s got options on the table.
“He might have to wait a little bit. We know he’ll be playing football next season, it’s just a matter of finding out where.
“He’s a massive asset for us; what he’s done for Welsh football over the years is incredible and he’s still a massive part for me moving forward.
“He 100 per cent will be in my World Cup squad. There’s no doubt about that. It’s about getting him in the best place to go and enjoy his football, wherever that may be.”
Swansea head coach Russell Martin has long been an admirer of Allen and watched the midfielder in action during the play-off final win over Ukraine along with Swansea’s chief executive Julian Winter.
The club are looking to free up funds to put a suitable package together to bring Allen back to the Swansea.com Stadium this summer, 10 years after he left the club to join Liverpool.
Stoke City have confirmed they have held talks with Allen over the possibility of extending the Welshman’s stay at the bet365 Stadium.*