ALLEN CALLS TIME ON CAREER

WALES midfielder Joe Allen has announced his retirement from football after his instinct told him he was not going to reach next year’s World Cup.

- PHIL BLANCHE Press Association [e-mail]

Narberth product Allen, who won 77 caps for Wales and was also a member of the 2012 Great Britain Olympic team, played his final game for Swansea City on Saturday.

The 35-year-old - who played a pivotal role as Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and was named in the official team of that tournament - has made more than 580 appearances in an 18-year senior career.

Allen started and ended his career at Swansea and also played for Wrexham, Liverpool and Stoke.

He reversed his February 2023 decision to retire from international football in October citing “unfinished business” with Wales, but said ahead of his final game against Oxford: “The timing’s right.

“A lot of factors go into the decision, but when you get to 35 you're only getting worse.