Mark Hughes pleased Joe Allen chose Stoke move over Swansea return
Saturday 29 October 2016 23:09, UK
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is pleased midfielder Joe Allen will be on his side when the Potters take on Swansea on Monday.
Allen joined Stoke from Liverpool over the summer but the Wales international was also reportedly linked with a move back to his boyhood club, and Hughes admits it was touch-and-go at times whether he would choose the Potters.
The 26-year-old has proven a shrewd acquisition for Stoke so far, including a surprising amount of success in front of goal, and he heads into the bet365 Stadium encounter with four goals in his last four games.
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Hughes said: "Obviously we were a little bit worried about that emotional tie that maybe he might have had for his previous club because he had a great time there.
"But I sensed very quickly once we had the opportunity to speak to Joe, his motivation was to get back to playing week in, week out, and he had seen us at first hand as an opposition team.
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"I think we'd impressed him, certainly in the cup semi-final, he saw the quality of players we had.
"When we had the conversation and made it known that we'd love him to come and be part of what we were doing, I think he remembered that and could see how he could fit in.
"And we've been delighted with what he's produced. He's not only technically a very good player, an intelligent player, he's added goals, which is a bonus because we didn't anticipate that.
"His demeanour and his personality has added to the group as well.
"We feel very fortunate that he decided we were the right option for him. Sometimes you're the right club at the right time for the right player, and I think that's what happened with Joe.
"He could have maybe taken an easier option to go back to Swansea because it's an area and a club he knows but he took a leap of faith with us and I think he's benefited and so have we. Clearly I thought he was a good player, I paid £13m for him, but he's even surpassed that."
