Little Joe Ready To Take On The World

From the Carmarthen Journal

Young Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen has been the talk of the town this season after putting in a number of impressive performances. Since making his league debut when he came on as a substitute against Blackpool in the final game of last season, Allen's career has taken off. He made his first start in the first team in a Carling Cup game against Walsall and was named man of the match.

The diminutive Narberth youngster was also man of the match in Swansea's extra-time exit from the same competition in the home match against Premier League side Reading. And on Friday evening he made his first start in a league match when Swansea won 2-1 at home to Carlisle. Unfortunately, the 17-year-old was forced to limp off midway through the second half after yet another impressive performance. Swansea manager Roberto Martinez said: ''It is disappointing for Joe because I thought he handled himself really well out there. His role was to get on the ball and make things tick. ''I thought he did that and as usual showed maturity beyond his 17 years.'' On one of his rare days off, Allen spends time with parents, Steve and Jane, together with brother Harry - a Pembrokeshire first division footballer with Narberth - and sisters Kate and Amy. Despite a remarkable start to his professional footballing career, Allen's feet are planted firmly on the ground. His family are keen sports followers. His dad Steve played rugby for Whitland before going away to study to become a dental surgeon and his mum Jane plays tennis for the Wales Over-40s team. Although keen on all forms of sport, Joe has been football mad since his primary school days. He was signed up for Swansea City's Centre of Excellence programme at the age of nine after being invited to attend a trial by Ray Evans. At the time there were about 20 youngsters in the group and some players are still on the staff at the club, including Chris Jones and Shaun MacDonald, while another, Rhys Taylor, has moved on to Chelsea. A role model himself for young schoolboys, as a schoolboy Allen admired the talents of Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane. In addition, the successful move from Pembrokeshire football to professional football by Simon Davies and Mark Delaney inspired him to do the same. He enjoys relaxing with his young team-mates in and around Swansea and he enjoys going to the cinema and looking around the city's shops. When home in Narberth during the summer months he is also a talented cricketer. When available he played for Narberth in division one of the Pembrokeshire League this season as a wicketkeeper-batsman. As well as playing and training with Swansea City, he also attends Neath Port Talbot College at Llandarcy and when the course ends he will obtain a BTech diploma in sport. During the week he lives with his 'digs parents' in Dunvant with another young player Ollie Fisher, a regular in the Swans youth team who hails from Newcastle Emlyn. As well as his success with Swansea City, Allen made his Wales Under-21s debut away against Sweden this month where he scored the winner and he also played in the next under-21s fixture away to France. In addition, he has been the subject of an in-depth interview by the new BBC Wales television magazine programme Sport Wales. It came as no surprise when Joe was awarded a three-year contract by the Swans a few weeks ago. At the time Roberto Martinez said: ''We are delighted to secure Joe for the next three years. He is a very exciting player who has a fantastic international career ahead of him as well as a very exciting future with Swansea City. It gives us great pleasure to have a talented Welsh player like him in our squad. ''Joe keeps surprising us but maybe he shouldn't surprise us anymore. When he came on against Blackpool last season he showed what he can do and against Walsall in the Carling Cup he did the same again. There is a lot more to come from Joe and I consider him a first-team squad member now.'' Quiet and unassuming, Allen has not been carried away with his success. On asked on his aims for this season he said: ''It would be nice to get a few more appearances for the Swansea City first team and to become established as a Wales Under-21 player. ''I would also like to represent Wales one day and have a successful career at Swansea City. My aim is to go to the top with Swansea and to represent Wales.'' Allen realises that he would not have achieved what he has done already without the help of his family. ''I would like to thank my parents and other family members for their support over the years, particularly in travelling to and from football training and matches,'' he added. Swansea supporters admire his footballing skills in midfield together with his distribution with both feet and his vision. Martinez added: ''Joe has got the potential to be a fantastic footballer if he keeps developing. "He has an excellent attitude, he is willing to listen and learn and has already made his Swansea debut and hit the headlines with the Wales Under-21 team at the age of 17. That speaks volumes in itself. ''He has great feet, drive and energy. He has got to be one of the brightest prospects, not only in Welsh football but in British football.''

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