Phil Sumbler
Joe Allen is finally expected to make his second Swans debut when the team take on Oxford United in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Allen has been forced to sit out the first two league games of the season but is widely anticipated to return for the cup tie and make his second Swans debut, more than 15 years after the first.
Back then it was a 17 year old Joe Allen who came on for Andy Robinson in a 6-3 home defeat by Blackpool with a first start coming in the League Cup three months later against Walsall.
Since then the midfielder has made excess of 500 club appearances as well as appearing for Wales in two European Championships with of course a World Cup to come later this year as well.
“As soon as Swansea showed an interest and came to the table, it was certainly one of the ones that went right to the top. I was keen as mustard then to pursue it,” Allen said of his homecoming in last weekend’s match programme.
“I think the stage I am at in my career I think my experience hopefully will be big for this group.
“When the club spoke to me and Russell spoke, he talked a lot about how they needed a senior player in the building to help the more senior lads that are already here.
“I thought I fit the bill from that point of view. Hopefully I can have a good influence, have a good effect on all the lads, especially the younger ones. My job is to come here and help the team be better and move forward.”
Allen is expected to start against Oxford alongside the likes of Cameron Congreve, Ben Cabango whilst there could also be starts for Ollie Cooper, Steven Benda and Liam Cullen with Russell Martin expected to shuffle his squad for the tie.
The game at Oxford kicks off at 7.45pm on Tuesday.
