Wales midfielder Joe Allen has returned to training, raising the team’s hopes that he could be ready to play in Monday’s World Cup opener against the U.S. men’s national team.
Allen has been struggling with a hamstring injury that he suffered on September 17 in a game with Swansea City. He hasn’t played since.
The 32-year-old is a vital part of Rob Page’s side and told BBC Sport last week that he is hoping to be fit for Monday’s game, the first World Cup match for Wales since 1958.
“I’m hoping to be fit for the first game. There isn’t much time, but this is an important week for me,” he said.
“It’s improving, thankfully. I’m doing everything I can to get myself fit for the World Cup.
“I really want to prove my fitness. We’ll have to see how this week goes, but I feel confident and comfortable that it won’t be too much of a problem.”
More important than Bale or Ramsey?
Allen has been a mainstay for Wales over a decade, playing a major role in the team’s Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 campaigns.
Though Wales features big-name stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon said last month that he believes Allen is more important than either of them.
“There will be lots of Wales fans and players as well concerned because we all know how important Joe is to the team,” former Wales defender Gabbidon told the PA news agency.
“He’s probably even more important than Gareth and Aaron because we’ve struggled in that midfield area over the last two or three years.
“He is the glue in there with the defensive job he does and the experience that he has.
“You can see the difference in that midfield area when he’s not there, and it’s where games are won and lost.”
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