Joe Allen | I want to have a much bigger impact for Swansea City this season

Joe Allen is determined to make a big impact at Swansea City this season after what was, by his own admission, a frustratingly stop-start campaign last term.

The 33-year-old returned to his boyhood club a year ago, but a pre-season disrupted by injury left him playing catch-up and the 2022-23 season itself would follow a similar pattern.

The former Wales international is hopeful that by getting a full pre-season behind him this summer, he will be able to better help the club achieve its aims for the forthcoming campaign.

“I think a lot of people say that it can be difficult if you miss pre-season and you do find you’re chasing a little bit, it was certainly a patchy season for me, which is the way it goes sometimes,” said Allen.

“I’m hopeful that the good break in the summer to get over any issues will be a big help and then obviously we’ve got a few weeks of important work leading up to the start of the season, so I’m hopeful that that will hold me in really good stead for the full season.

“I want to offer more to the team and help the team more this season..

“Availability and being out on the pitch is one of the biggest ways you can do that. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can stay fit throughout the whole season – that’s my aim.

“If I can do that hopefully I can help the team reach our targets and it will be a season we can look back on with a feeling of pride.”

Pre-season began with testing in the Swans Fairwood Training base before the team and staff travelled to Spain for a week-long training camp.

The time has also given the players the chance to meet the new head coach Michael Duff, who was appointed on the eve of their return.

“It’s fantastic here [in Spain],” Allen added.

“It’s a great hotel, the facilities are spot on, the weather is great – we’re very lucky to be here and the lads are enjoying the week here.

“It’s a lot hotter than Swansea, which makes it a lot tougher but that’s all part of it at this stage of the season.

“We’re getting the fitness work in and getting ourselves up to speed ready for the start of the season.

“The lads have taken to the new manager really well. This has been our first time doing football work, so we got a taste of it, we enjoyed the sessions, and we’re looking forward to things.

“Managers don’t tend to come in and throw too much at you too early. I’m sure he’ll get more of his ideas across as pre-season goes on. We’ve got a few weeks to get all of that stuff in, understand how things will work this season, what we’ll be looking for going into the first fixture.”