Joe Allen has got the disappointment of Wales’ performance in Qatar out of his system and is ready for another cup run.
The 32-year-old midfield maestro is hoping to steer Swansea City past Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Sunday to launch a strong second half to the season for the club he returned to last summer.
‘It has been good for me getting stuck back into club football almost immediately after Qatar. We worked so hard to get to the World Cup and it was supposed to be the pinnacle of our careers,’ said Allen.
Joe Allen has put the disappointment of Qatar behind him as he strives for success with Swansea
‘We threw so much into achieving something but it didn’t quite happen. The aim for me now is to have a much bigger impact in the second half of the season at Swansea.
Click Here: cheap wests tigers jersey
‘I want to stay fit and play a lot more. The reason I rejoined the club was that I really wanted to help the team improve and I’m confident I can do that in the second half of the season.’
The FA Cup holds bittersweet memories for Allen, from being a 16-year-old on the bench for the first time in 2007 to a semi-final defeat with Liverpool in 2015.
The midfielder is looking to drive the club on to a successful second half of the season – including against Bristol City at Ashton Gate
‘The FA Cup is a great competition that’s full of history and my first experience was at Sheffield United all those years ago,’ he added.
‘I didn’t get on the pitch but as a 16-year-old, being on the bench in that sort of situation and being a part of it, was a huge boost for me. It gave me a taste of what a football career was like and gave me an extra bit of motivation to make it in the game.
‘I’ve been fortunate to have a pretty long career, but that remains a very fond memory of mine. One of the disappointments was losing a semi-final at Wembley with Liverpool.
‘There is still plenty of time to have another good cup run. That’s what this time of year brings, the thought that this could be your year to have a run and have some exciting ties and go as far as you can.’
Wales were dumped out of the World Cup in large due to their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Iran