Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

PAGE LEFT IN A SWEAT OVER KEY MAN ALLEN

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to be fit, with the 32-year-old even having a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in his house.

He joined the Wales squad for a lightheart­ed kickabout at the start of training yesterday but then broke off to work with medic Sean Connelly while the rest of the squad carried out drills and worked on their shape.

It continues to put a doubt against Allen being ready in time to return to start at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Monday evening.

The Swansea midfielder’s race against time has echoes of Joe Ledley’s battle to be fit, which included using an oxygen chamber, for Euro 2016, where he went on to help the side to the last four. Manager Page (left) seems determined to pick Allen if possible and said: “If he’s fit, he’s playing. He’s massive for how I play and the success we’ve had.

“He’s a senior lad, he’s got vast amounts of experience playing tournament football as well. He knows the game inside-out and that is invaluable.”

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