Praise was heaped on the Swansea City midfielder after a superb central midfield display on Sunday which showed that his position in the Swans side is becoming more certain game after game.<\/p>\n
Indeed should he start on Wednesday it will equal his record number of Swans starts in a row and at the moment you wouldn’t back against him setting a personal best against Middlesbrough next Sunday.<\/p>\n
His performances have attracted comparisons with Barcelona midfield maestro Xavi from manager Brendan Rodgers who said \u201cI\u2019m not saying he\u2019s Xavi, but he\u2019s that type. He has that wonderful footballing arrogance that big players have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skipper Garry Monk was not quite so specific in terms of comparison but equally gushing of his praise when he said \u201cYou have to give him his dues<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year he was frustrated; he only started a handful of games and only played two full 90 minutes in a whole season.<\/p>\n
\u201cA player like he is just needs to be playing, to have that run of games.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had that this year and we can all see the improvements already.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is just classy in every way<\/p>\n
\u201cYou forget he is so young at times and he has the talent to go all the way to the top.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s at the right place to do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe only has to look at the way Scott Sinclair has come on since he joined.<\/p>\n
\u201cScott was at different clubs, getting the odd game and not getting that chance to really shine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve both got a home here where they can take their talent on and from there they can go all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Gower, another one of Sunday’s midfield trio added \u201cHe\u2019s 20 but he plays like he\u2019s an old pro, as if he\u2019s been playing all his life<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great talent and you would say he\u2019s a great prospect for Welsh football.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly he\u2019s not just a prospect, he\u2019s doing it week-in, week-out right now and putting in the kind of performances that is going to make it very hard for anyone to budge him out of the side.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Allen’s own focus remains on playing regularly \u201cIt\u2019s just about having that regular chance, I think,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I\u2019ve learned about the game is that it\u2019s extremely tough to come into a side and play to the best of your ability straight away.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying regularly gives you a massive lift in terms of confidence, match fitness and being able to look forward to that next game knowing you\u2019ve got that chance to be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n