Joe Allen is ready for the final push with the Swans towards the Championship play offs

It's been quite a year for the young Swansea City midfielder.    Thrust into the Championship action because of injuries to key Swans players and he has shown an experience beyond his years to keep the side pushing hard for that place in the Premiership.

And it seems only a matter of time - maybe even just a few weeks - until he gets the reward he deserves with a Welsh call up - something that he has admitted is his next professional goal.

Joe also believes that he has grown up during his prolonged spell in the first team and is ready for the pressure that is now on all the teams who need those crucial points to extend their season beyond the first Saturday in May.  Speaking to the Western Mail, Joe said “When you’re a youngster coming through, sometimes it can be easy to think you’re only playing because you have to

“Whether it’s injuries or whatever, sometimes you can think it’s only because others are out that you’re in.

“But, the more this season has gone on and the more games I play, the more comfortable I feel at this level.

“And hopefully that’s starting to show because I’m trying to build on every performance.

“With players like Darren Pratley coming back it’s going to be a battle to stay in there and keep my place.

“But it’s been like that all season and all I can do is perform like I have been doing.

“One thing you learn quickly here is that every performance has to count because the competition for places is so high.

“You know that if the standard is where it should be that someone is ready to come in and do just as well. You have to accept that whether you’re a youngster or not.

“It was an interesting experience,” Allen added after coming through a battle with another Welsh midfielder - Robbie Savage - on Tuesday night at Pride Park

“It was quite exciting to go up against someone like Robbie, who obviously won a lot of caps for Wales and has a lot of experience at the top level.

“It was a bit of a battle and, although he didn’t say anything to me, he definitely left his foot in a few times.

“I didn’t have the chance to get him back...but there’s always next time!

“Because games like that and individual situations like that are all part of a learning experience and vital to your development.

“I think I started well when I first came into the side, took a bit of time to find my feet in the middle, but then I felt strong before my injury.

“But it felt good to come back at such a crucial time and I want to keep my place, get a run of games going and build on my performances.

“Big games like these in the Championship where there’s so much to play for are ones to look forward to and I have to take things from them for my own benefit.

“Recently, on the ball, we’ve passed it well and looked comfortable,” he said.

“But there’s two sides to the game and in the last few games I think, off the ball, we’ve been disappointing.

“It’s something we’re going out of our way to put straight and I’m sure we’ll see that in the coming weeks.

“When you get to this stage of the season every game is important and every point can be the difference between making the play-offs or not.”

Photo: Action Images

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