Owain Tudur Jones says it would be a “no-brainer” for Wales to recall Joe Allen if the veteran Swansea City midfielder is willing to come out of international retirement. Allen, 34, called time on his Wales career in February 2023. But there are suggestions that new head coach Craig Bellamy has spoken to Allen about returning to the national squad.
And Jones, Allen’s former Wales team-mate and friend, believes the 74-cap former Liverpool player should still be representing his country. “I can see exactly why Craig Bellamy would want to bring him in, or would be thinking about bringing Joe into the squad,” Jones said. “I don’t think he would be bringing Joe in to play 90 minutes in every single game, he wouldn’t be bringing him in to stop the development of Jordan James, who’s been so good in the last couple of years.
“But he made five changes between both games [earlier this month]. He knows with that style of play, it’s hard to replicate and perform that way in two games so changes would happen. “Whether that would mean using Joe off the bench later on in games to see games out, whether it’s to use him in a second game, who knows.
But honestly I just feel it would be such a clever move because we haven’t got a depth of talent especially in centre midfield.” Allen is regarded as one of Wales’ all-time greats having helped his country qualify for three major tournaments. He was a star performer in the team who reached the Euro 2016 semi-final, a.
