Dave Edwards has praised Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen.
Wales have suffered a massive blow ahead of their crunch World Cup qualifier games, as star player Gareth Bale has been ruled out through injury.
Chris Coleman’s side sit second in Group D, and are still unbeaten, but their fate of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is hanging by a thread.
Bale will miss the final two qualifiers due to a calf injury. But Dave Edwards believes that Wales can rely on Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen to deliver on Friday night.
Edwards, who has 41 international caps, has showered praise on Allen, saying that he is one of the best midfielders in Europe.
He adds that Allen is integral to the Wales side, and he is as important to the team as Bale is.
“I’d want to have Joe Allen in that midfield every day of the week,” said Edwards, as quoted by The Mirror. “I think he’s one of the best midfielders in Europe, I really do.
“I watch him train and he’s something else. The way he can carry a team in the way he’s done in previous games for Wales has shown he’s become as integral to us as Gareth is.”
The former Liverpool player made the Euro 2016 team of the tournament. His passing ability and excellent ball retention capability are his major strengths that earned him the moniker “Welsh Xavi”.
But, really is Allen one of the best midfielders in Europe? He is a good player, no doubt, and an established Premier League star, but probably comes way down the pecking order amongst the top midfielders in Europe.
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