Swansea V Wolverhampton at Liberty Stadium : Match Preview

27 April 2012 17:01
Allen affirms Swans future Joe Allen heads into this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash with Wolves adamant that Swansea is the "ideal" place to continue his football development and that he will be at the Liberty Stadium next season. The 22-year-old midfielder, who has three years left on his current deal, has been one of the club's most impressive performers during a season where they have confounded pre-season predictions to lie on the brink of top-flight safety. Allen's assured presence in the middle of the park alongside Leon Britton has been a key element in the possession style that has won Swansea so many plaudits, and he was arguably unfortunate not to be shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. The Wales international's form has been such that he has been linked with moves to the likes of Liverpool, but he sees no reason why he will not remain at his hometown club next term. "I can't see why not," he said. "We've had our debut season in the Premier League and the majority tipped us to go down. "You can see the rewards we've had this season for the effort we've put in. "We're a hungry group of players and it's a great experience to play at this level. "We all want to play at this level and I personally can't see why anyone would want to leave because we're a team that's moving forwards constantly under a manager with fantastic ideas." Manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he is confident of retaining the services of his best players during the summer, believing that his squad understand the benefits they reap from playing at a club which has a style moulded to suit their game. And Allen admits that Swansea is the right place for him to develop as a player. "Ever since I've come through at this club things have been ideal for me," he said. "The managers and players we've had, you can't fault it really. "It's definitely helped my development and I'm grateful for that. "I'm sure the club will do everything they can to make sure everyone who's been a big part of our season stays." Wolves keeper Dorus de Vries has no regrets about leaving Swansea last summer despite the midlands club being relegated from the Barclays Premier League. De Vries will make only his second league appearance since his move from the Liberty Stadium in place of the injured Wayne Hennessey. But the Dutchman is philosophical about how events have mapped out during the past nine months and is looking to establish himself as number one while Hennessey recovers from knee ligament surgery. De Vries said: "I had some great years at the Liberty Stadium, great memories. Swansea deserve to be where they are at the moment, they've had a great season. "A lot of the players have been there since League Two and to show their quality at Premier League level, and the way they play, is magnificent. "I had a great connection with the supporters although it might be a little bit different on the weekend!" With regard to his move to Molineux, De Vries said: "It's easy to look later on. I don't have a magic wand and no one can predict the future. "I always thought Swansea, with their style, would be suited to playing at Premier League level but looking back, at the time I signed for Wolves, I had a good feeling for Wolves. "There are no `ifs' because I cannot turn back time and, at the time it felt the right choice. I'm sticking with that." De Vries has no doubts that Rodgers will manage one of the top Premier League clubs in the future. He said: "It doesn't surprise me at all that Brendan is being tipped for bigger things in his career. "Tactically, he is really up there, his training methods are really good. He is still a young manager but I see him doing bigger things. I regard him really highly. "I wouldn't be surprised if eventually he ends up at one of the big clubs. I know his character, he is obsessed by the game, has a great vision, and I've got nothing but positive things to say about him." De Vries is challenging Wolves to end the season on a high despite going down ahead of plotting for an instant return to the top flight. Wolves will be without on-loan Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong (hamstring), so Christophe Berra could step in as interim manager Terry Connor searches for his first win at the 11th attempt. end

Swansea V Wolverhampton - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.

Source: PA