Four Swans in Wales squad as Joe Allen returns to international fold

Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen has returned to international duty after being named in the Wales squad for the Nations League games against Iceland and Montenegro.

Allen is one of four Swansea players selected by Craig Bellamy, with Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper also included. 

Head of goalkeeping Martyn Margetson will also link up with Wales having recently become goalkeeping coach in the national set-up.

Wales travel to face Iceland on Friday October 11, and then return to Cardiff to host Montenegro on Monday, October 14 as they look to build on taking four points from their first two games under Bellamy’s stewardship.

It is Allen’s first call-up since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the Wales great initially opting to bring down the curtain on an international career containing 74 caps, three major tournaments and a place in the Euro 2016 team of the tournament, following his country’s first appearance at the global showpiece in 64 years.

Having been capped at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, Swans academy product Allen made his senior Wales bow against Estonia in the summer of 2009.

His first start for his country followed against Switzerland in 2011 at the then-Liberty Stadium and he skippered the Dragons for the first time in 2014 against the Netherlands.

Along with the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams; Allen was an integral part of Wales’ progress up the world rankings, and the eventual ending of a 58-year wait to reach a major tournament with the successful qualification for Euro 2016.

He followed his outstanding displays as Chris Coleman’s side reached the semi-finals in France by scoring his first Wales goal later that year against Moldova, and he continued to be a central figure for club and country, playing at Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022 to put him in a select band of Welsh players to have played in three major competitions.