The Swansea City midfielder made his first Championship start for five months on Tuesday and his performance brought strong praise from his manager Brendan Rodgers.
But as a local lad, Allen knows that there can be extra pressure on him to do well and that has led to frustrations on his part in the past.
But he is now putting that behind him as he explained to the Western Mail “I realise I’m in the spotlight a little because I’m Welsh and a local lad
“You play well for a game and there can be a lot of hype, which has been the same for any lad who’s come through the ranks.
“It’s something you have to expect and also something you have to deal with.
“It brings a pressure, but I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself in the past and I think that was my problem last year.
“Now I’m trying to relax, enjoy my football and control my temper and frustrations a bit.
“There will be disappointments but I have to stay positive and look to be playing as part of a successful team.
“I’m still developing as a player and have a long way to go, but every season you have to improve. I’m confident I can do that this year – hopefully I can get the run of games I need that to show it.
“What I need to be doing is playing one game and going straight into the next,” he says, aiming to keep his starting berth for Saturday’s clash with Scunthorpe.
“Last year the injuries came one after the other so stringing games together didn’t happen for me.
“But I’ve played a couple of games in quick succession for the U21s and then into these games for Swansea and I feel good.
“I feel fitter than I did all of last year and it’s personally very important for me to get a run going.
“There are a lot of good players fighting for every position on the pitch so it was important to first get a start – and now my focus and main task is to keep that spot.
“Everything else will come after that.”
