Allen: You've not seen my best yet
Joe Allen claims Liverpool fans have 'definitely not' seen the best of him yet - and has spoken of his excitement about returning to 100 per cent fitness and showing them what he can do.
The 23-year-old has played much of 2013 in discomfort because of a shoulder injury that has now been addressed through surgery.
Allen admits his performances dipped after an impressive start to life at Anfield - but hopes a return to 100 per cent fitness will help him regain the kind of form which made Brendan Rodgers so keen to buy him from Swansea.
"The fans have definitely not seen the best of me yet," Allen told Liverpoolfc.com. "It's no secret that recent months haven't gone great for me. I am confident and faithful that next season I can perform a lot better.
"Unfortunately this season's a write-off in regards to the injury but the plan is, and I've got a bit of time, to make sure it's right over the summer break in time for pre-season.
"The injury is something I'd been trying to put to the back of my mind but it was something that needed to be addressed. I'm glad it's sorted in some ways because I'm looking forward to it being fixed and not having to worry about it.
"It had been there for a while so I'd almost grown used to it but it's got worse and worse and I was probably kidding myself by not getting it sorted a bit sooner.
"It's difficult to say [whether it affected my game] - I don't want to use it as an excuse, that's for sure. But I'd like to see how it is once it's fixed and I'd like to think it's going to help me massively.
"I'm excited and looking forward to being 100 per cent fit. These things can often play on your mind. Hopefully this will bring out the best in me."
Allen's performances at the start of his Liverpool career were so good that fans voted him their Standard Chartered Player of the Month for August - and the Wales international is targeting more of the same in August 2013.
"Hopefully I can start pre-season fully fit and my target from there is to get a spot in the side and make sure my performances are more consistent," he said.
"Being a young player I'd hope you can see my progress and development as well."
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