Swansea City ace Joe Allen has agreed a new three-year contract to keep him at the club until 2012.
Swansea ace rewarded for remarkable season with new contract
Swansea City youngster Joe Allen has agreed a new three-year contract to keep him at the club until 2012.
The 19-year-old's deal was not set to run out until next summer but after an impressive breakthrough season the Swans have decided to act swiftly in a bid to tie the midfielder down.
The Welshman began the season on loan at Wrexham but an ankle injury, picked up in only his third game for the Conference side forced him to make an early return to the Liberty Stadium.
Allen impressed then manager Roberto Martinez so much so that he was handed an extended run in the first team in December and in all made 23 appearances, 17 of them starts, in the Championship last season on his way to picking up the club's Young Player of the Year award.
The Welshman then topped that when he won his first Wales cap against Estonia at the end of the campaign to make it a memorable season.
"I'm thrilled to be signing a longer deal," he told the
club's official website. "I love playing for the club and I believe there are exciting times ahead.
"My aim is to build on the foundations I made last season and try and establish myself as a regular in the match day squad and then the starting line-up."
Keep improving
Having learnt his trade under Martinez Allen is determined to improve himself further under new manager Paulo Sousa, who himself was one of the leading midfielders in European football in the 1990s.
"I've been lucky with my last two managers because both of them have been former midfielders," he added.
"I think all the player are excited about working under the new manager and I'm sure I will benefit greatly from his experience as a player and a coach.
"I've had a great summer, making my full international debut for Wales. It was a very proud moment for me and I hope I can carry that feeling on throughout the new season."
