Joe Allen | I am itching to get down to work during pre-season

Joe Allen was thrilled to extend his stay at Swansea City and is itching to get down to work with pre-season fast approaching.

The midfielder recently put pen to paper on a new one-year deal through to the summer of 2025, having performed strongly and consistently over a run of games following Luke Williams’ appointment as head coach in January.

A toe injury brought a premature end to Allen’s 2023-24 campaign, but he has fully recovered and has been among the players taking part in testing and training at Fairwood this week ahead of the start of pre-season proper in July.

The former Wales international admits there were times where he felt it was unlikely he would remain at the Swans for another season but, having seized the chance to show his undoubted quality, he is eagerly-anticipating working with Williams ahead of the new campaign.

“I was really thrilled to sign the contract, and I am excited about that,” said Allen.

“To be honest, earlier in the season before I had the spell back in the team it had looked unlikely.

“But I always kept the hope that I would be able to show what I could do and extend the deal.

“Thankfully, the gaffer gave me a chance in the team and the club gave me the chance to extend my time here.

“From my side, the gaffer was a huge part of that. From when he came in on his first day, it was clear to me that I was really going to like working with him, and the way he wanted the team to play.

“His ideas and methods suited me, and the whole group here, and we saw clear signs of that as the season was drawing to a close. We were making progress and it was great to be a part of that.

“I was just itching to keep that going into the start of next season and everyone is eager to get back in for pre-season.”

Allen’s recovery from injury has gone according to plan, and he relished the chance to be out on the training pitch this week.

And he is now eager to make sure he gets a strong pre-season under his belt.

“The rehab has gone well, it was frustrating to miss the last few games of the season but I knew there was going to be enough time between the end of the season and the start of pre-season to get that sorted,” he said.

“I’ve had these few days being back out on the grass with one of the training groups, there have been no problems.

“Coming in during pre-season, it is a new one for me, in the past I have had international football over the summer so it is a long break with out. I think it makes sense to come in and see where we are at and get some work in.

“It’s always a bit better when you do it as a group, rather than slogging away on your own.

“Pre-season is going to be important, and I think it gets ever more important as you get older as a player. 

“Any time you lose becomes harder and harder to turn around, so the number one aim for me is to perform well but to stay fit and available as much as possible. 

“Touch wood, that can be for the whole season, and the base for doing that is a good pre-season.”