Joe Allen discussing his Liverpool future but ignoring an obvious problem

Joe Allen is reportedly going to be included in the Liverpool squad this weekend, which will be his first involvement since getting injured in August.

Prior to that, he’s been talking about what he has to do to be a more regular part of Brendan Rodgers’ side:

“I can get involved more in the creative side, in assisting goals,” he said. “That’s a big thing.

It’s something I felt was coming at Swansea, and last season sort of stopped a little bit. That’s something I think I can offer, looking forward.”

(Sky Sports)

That last sentence is very telling, and it’s an admittance of something which has become increasingly obvious: Allen should never have left Swansea when he did. I don’t blame him for doing so, because it would have been very difficult to turn that offer down, but after just a solitary season of Premier League football he was never going to find this kind of adjustment easy.

While it’s good that he’s aware of the aspects of his game that need improving, I don’t see how he’s going to get that opportunity. As I’ve said before, as and when Liverpool have enough midfield cover, he and Brendan Rodgers should seriously consider a loan move - because, looking at the obstacles between Allen and the first-team, that might be the only way he gets significant game-time.

This is still a really young player, and someone who has all the time in the world to mature into a credible option at a club like Liverpool, so maybe moving away from Anfield temporarily is in his best interests?

It comes down to this: how much can he really add to his game if he’s only playing in sporadic twenty minute blocks?

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