It’s agony for Allen... call to step in for Joe
WALES fans have been left devastated by the news that Joe Allen has been ruled out of the upcoming European Championships this summer, but attention will now have to turn to who can possibly replace one of Welsh football’s greatest-ever servants.
Allen was forced off with a ruptured Achilles tendon during Stoke City’s 5-1 win over Hull City and will miss this summer’s showpiece, his club confirmed yesterday.
Ryan Giggs will no doubt have his own ideas in mind on who to bring in and his previous team selections have perhaps given us a few clues as to who might now fill the void left by the 56-times-capped star.
Here are just a few of the contenders that could now be about to step up.
JOE MORRELL
THE 23-year-old is already firmly on the radar and actually played alongside Allen during the 2-0 win over Hungary back in November.
Indeed, it’s likely he would have been included in Giggs’ Euro 2020 squad regardless of Allen’s fitness, but he could now be expected to play a bigger role in their upcoming campaign.
Morrell appears a ready-made, like-for-like replacement, but given that he only has five caps for his country, and that most of his football has been in League One with Lincoln this season, there will inevitably be questions over his experience at this level.
ETHAN AMPADU
SIMILAR to Morrell, Ampadu was a big part of Wales’ successful qualifying campaign and may have been a certainty for inclusion anyway.
Ampadu played alongside Allen four times during during qualification and he will likely have a big role in Giggs’ plans this summer.