A MURAL depicting Pembrokeshire football hero Joe Allen has appeared on a wall of the town’s Farmers Arms as the Wales midfield dynamo strives to make Rob Page’s squad for the Qatar World Cup – now less than a month away.
Entitled ‘Y Wal Goch’ (The Red Wall) the mural – showing Allen arms aloft in full celebratory mode – is attributed to ‘Lloyd The Graffiti with Mentrau Iaith’.
And head coach Page believes there is a ‘strong probability’ that the 32-year-old will indeed be on the plane to Qatar.
Allen, a former pupil at Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych, missed the Nations League matches against Belgium and Poland in September after suffering a hamstring injury during Swansea City's 3-0 triumph over Hull City in the final game before the international break.
Having been expected to return to action before the end of October, Allen - who hails from Narberth - went to see a specialist in London this week to get a full update on his situation after suffering a setback.
Page, nevertheless, is confident that Allen will be fit enough to be included in his 26-man squad for the tournament.
"He's key to us in how we play and he's key to the success that we've had so I get everybody's concern," he said.
"I can't do any more than say he's had a little bit of a setback and we're doing everything in our power to make sure he gets on that plane.
"I think there's a strong probability that he will be there.
“With regards to his fitness and how many minutes he'll have played before that or training sessions, I don't know. That's my only concern with that one."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here