If Joe Allen decides to come out of international retirement before Euro 2024, Ethan Ampadu says he would be happy to have him back in the Wales squad.
Wales will play Poland in a play-off final on Tuesday at Cardiff City Stadium, with a spot in Germany this summer on the line. Wales is one victory away from advancing to their third consecutive European Championship.
After winning 74 caps and competing in three major tournaments, Allen announced the end of his illustrious career with Wales in February 2023.
However, the Swansea veteran stated last week that if Rob Page, the manager of Wales, asked him to come out of international retirement for the Euros, he would “never say no.”
Ampadu responded, “I think if someone was to say no they’d be lying,” when asked if the Wales team would be happy to have Allen back. “That really isn’t my fault; that belongs to Joe and the gaffer, Rob Page.
“I’m sure everyone would be happy to see him return, including the media.”
In the Wales midfield, Leeds captain Ampadu has become Allen’s obvious successor. He earned his 50th cap during Thursday’s play-off semifinal triumph against Finland.
While Allen was a pundit for Welsh television covering the match, he declared last week that he would be open to returning for Euro 2024, even though he does not anticipate receiving a call from Page.
Naturally, I would never refuse him if he asked,” Allen told BBC Sport Wales. However, I’ve been saying lately that I doubt a call will be made.
The team is incredibly strong, and the young players are playing excellently. If those guys can help us advance to Germany, I believe they should be given the opportunity to play there.
Allen, who turned 34 earlier this month, stated that he was prepared to “make way for our next generation” and that “time and injuries take their toll” as he withdrew from his Wales duty.
Due to injuries, the former Liverpool midfielder has only started five games for Swansea in the Sky Bet Championship this season.
Page stated in August of last year that he intended to concentrate on the younger generation and had no intention of asking Allen to reevaluate his choice to retire.
The next step for us is to incorporate the children in the strategy that is in the works,” stated Page. “These are young men who will lead Welsh football in the future.”
Jordan James of Birmingham, who turns 20 in July, will earn his tenth cap against Poland and has established himself as a regular midfield partner with Ampadu since Allen’s retirement.
But as the season comes to an end, Allen seems to be finding his groove with the Swans. His present contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and he is hoping to earn an extension after playing a key role in the recent South Wales derby victory.
It’s been a nice run for me; I was determined to get in shape, earn a spot on the squad, and stick with it. Right now, things are going well, so I want to be with the team through the conclusion of the season and help us finish strong,” he stated on the club website.
You want to be on the field impacting performances and outcomes as an experienced player, not just be around to be good at this area.
You can never rest on your laurels in this game, and the moment you become comfortable, it won’t take long for you to drop out or slip down the leagues, so I’ve always made sure to maintain a strong mindset and an insatiable hunger to try and prove myself.
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