Allen: I Miss Leon Britton Very Much

Joe Allen says that he misses former team mate Leon Britton 'very much' as he prepares to face him on Saturday at Bramall Lane.

Swansea City travel to Sheffield United this weekend as they look to show a big improvement from Friday's disappointing performance in the 1-1 home draw against Millwall.

Allen spoke very highly of Leon Britton and told the Evening Post how he was an inspiration to him as he developed into a first team player at the club.

'I miss Leon very much,'

'He was a massive role model to me personally, from the days when I used to watch him as a fan at the Vetch through to when I was training and playing alongside him.

'I have been spoiled for choice when it comes to midfielders I've played with, but he is probably the one I have watched most and modelled myself on.

'I remember watching him in the League Two days when he first came on loan.

'He is a similar stature to me and a similar style of player, so I was gutted when he left.'

Sheffield United are currently struggling at the foot of the Championship table - the opposite to where they expected to be at this stage of the season. Despite a disappointing start, Gary Speed has attracted the attention of the Welsh FA and he's now been appointed as the new Wales manager.

Allen added:

'Things haven't gone as well as I'm sure Leon and the club would have expected,'

'They are having a tough time. I think they are under a lot of pressure as a team and hopefully we can keep that going this weekend.

'I'm sure Leon is enjoying it up there, but I think if he was honest he would also say he misses Swansea having been here so long.

'As a person and as a player, he is certainly missed by us.

'It will be good to see him again — this is a fixture we looked for at the start of the season after he'd left.

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