25 JOE ALLEN

MIDFIELD CAPS 72 2009 TO PRESENT DAY GOALS 2

A modern-day Welsh legend, if not quite as key as a couple of other stellar players in the current Wales team, Allen has nonetheless made an enormous impact of his own since making his debut in 2009.

Small in stature he may be, but at times he has been a giant in the Wales midfield, combining calm, composed passing skills with tenacity and tigerish tackling.

Shone so brightly at the Euros in France six years ago that he was named in the team of the tournament.

Helped local club Swansea City into the Premier League and played almost 100 times for Liverpool before moving to Stoke.

Allen was also a key member of the Team GB side at the 2012 London Olympic Games. One of five Welsh players selected, but probably wasn’t overly-enamoured at being described as English in one of the official match-day programmes.

A Welsh warrior, he kicks off our list.