Chris Coleman will consider using Joe Allen in an advanced position for Wales
Tuesday 1 November 2016 11:32, UK
Wales manager Chris Coleman will consider using Joe Allen in the advanced position in which he has shone at Stoke this season.
Allen has been a revelation in the link role (or No 10 role) since his £13m summer switch from Liverpool, his four goals making him top scorer for the Potters this season.
The 26-year-old continued his fine form on Monday night by setting up Wilfried Bony's first two Stoke goals in the 3-1 Premier League victory over former club Swansea.
Coleman has preferred to play Allen deeper in midfield at international level behind the attacking talents of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
But the Wales manager, who names his squad on Wednesday for the World Cup qualifier against Serbia on November 12, has suggested that Allen could be deployed further forward if circumstances allow.
"Absolutely, I would play him in the number 10 role," Coleman said.
"Depending who we've got, of course, but he could play number 10 all day long.
"You almost want a Joe Allen in front of the back four starting play and a Joe Allen just in behind the striker making the last pass.
"He's a great player and capable of both."
Allen netted his first goals for Wales in his past two appearances, the 4-0 home victory over Moldova and the 2-2 draw with Austria in Vienna.
But his absence with a hamstring injury was sorely felt last month as Wales dropped two crucial World Cup qualifying points in a 1-1 home draw against Georgia.
Ramsey is poised to return for the first time since the summer when Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, and Jonathan Williams is also available following an ankle injury suffered in pre-season.
While Wales are unbeaten after three games in World Cup qualifying, they still trail group leaders Serbia by two points.
"We've been looking at the last camp, concentrating on the good and the bad," Coleman said. "But we know the Serbia game is going to be incredibly tough.
"We're up against a team that are strongly fancied to win it, especially the way they've started.
"But we also know we are a good team and have to do what we did in the last campaign."
