By Paul Jones
Joe Allen is fit and available for Swansea City, despite claims by head coach Russell Martin that his midfielder played too many minutes against England at the World Cup.
The Wales star returned from Qatar having suffered more hamstring problems during the final group stage game, where he played 81 minutes before being substituted.
Allen had gone to the tournament with major doubts over his fitness, but managed to recover sufficiently to come on and play 13 minutes in the second match against Iran.
Now, after more treatment at his club, Martin insists the 32-year-old is fit and in contention to play for the Swans at home to Norwich City when the clubs resume their Championship campaign on Saturday afternoon.
Martin says Allen is in contention for selection for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury against Hull on September 17.
“Joe is good, physically really good. He has trained really well this week, having three brilliant days. It’s good for him, good for us,” said Martin.
“He played longer than he should have for Wales. It’s testament to him that he lasted that long, but he had to come off the pitch at that point. We were really worried about him, but it’s great he played in a World Cup for his country.
“He’s fine. He has come through it. It was a big ask for him, but because of the character he is he gets on with it and does it. Fortunately for us and Wales he has come out on the other side of it.
“He was a big player before he got injured. He’ll be a big player over the coming weeks and months, that’s for sure.
“I think he is desperate after the last couple of months to show people what he can do. He’s got nothing to prove to us really, he has nothing to prove to the other players. I think he wants to prove to everyone that he’s going to be a big success in coming back here.
“I thought he was great and was just starting to hit top form before he got injured, which is frustrating for him. He’s going to be a huge player for us. He is going to be absolutely massive for us, on and off the pitch.
“The motivation he has to do well here is really high. The love and respect he has from us as a group and as staff and team-mates is really high. Eventually all that will pay off.
“We have such a big part of the season left, we’re going to try everything we possibly can to improve our league position and finish higher than we are now, and he will play a huge part in that”.
Swansea are in eighth place in the Championship table, a point behind their East Anglian opposition.
A win would see the Swans leapfrog Dean Smith’s team and, while Martin is aware of the threat they pose, he is confident his side can hit the ground running after a positive World Cup break.
“They have got one of the best squads in the league, they have got a number of players who have been promoted. For some of them that is once, but there are plenty who have done it twice from this league.
It’s not all about the World Cup you know! ⚽️
The EFL returns this weekend with @SwansOfficial and @CardiffCityFC both in action
Fresh on the DragonBlog here’s the preview ✍️ ⤵️https://t.co/7cNC1xbnj9#SWANSEA #Cardiff #BLUEBIRDS #Swans #EFL #BackingWelshSport
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“They know exactly what it takes, they have a huge amount of experience in this league, and they have a manager who has a huge amount of experience in this league.
“So, this will be one of the tougher games we face, I am pretty sure, when you look at their squad and what they have at their disposal.
“They are a point above us in the league so it is going to be a really interesting game from that perspective, it will be a tough game. They are up there with the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United and Watford.
“They obviously have parachute payments too, having been relegated from the Premier League last season.
“They live in a bit of a different world to us, but we have something we believe can narrow that gap and it is going to be a really good game, a really interesting game.
“It’s one we are really looking forward to, and with the work we have done we are confident we can make it a good one for us.
“I had some great times at Norwich, but I want to win the game.”