Allen hoping to get the nod

CURTIS Allen is hoping that his midweek exploits can earn him a starting spot when the Bannsiders host Warrenpoint Town tomorrow afternoon…

The striker celebrated his 33^rd birthday in fine style as his double after the break earned Coleraine all three points from their visit to Carrick Rangers last Tuesday night.

The Stripes now turn their focus to Warrenpoint Town at The Showgrounds and Allen hopes he can lead the line against Barry Gray’s side.

“I’m 33-years-old now so I’m just hitting my prime,” he joked.

“I’m a fox in the box and there’s no doubt about that and I want to play in the middle of the goal.

“I spoke after the Crusaders game and I had a bit of a moan but at the end of the day, I know I’m not going to play every game.

“I think everyone in the squad knows that, bar one or two, but five years ago I would have played every game and I pretty much did that in my last spell here.

“I would love to play every game but at this stage of my career I probably can’t, and Oran and I know that.

“It’s all about doing what I can when I am playing or coming off the bench and I felt I done well against Carrick by scoring two goals and getting three points.

“I’m not getting carried away, I want to contribute as much as I can and I’m not going to sit back and think happy days I scored two so I’m going to take Saturday off.

“I want to play and I want to keep scoring goals as that’s what my career has all been about, so hopefully I get the nod to start on Saturday.”

Allen was partnered with Matthew Shevlin in the second-half at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena and he was impressed by how much the former Ballymena man wants to learn.

“He’s a bit like Stewart Nixon in a way, he’s raw, has all the attributes to be a very good player and he wants to learn which is great,” he continued.

“You can tell when you are talking to him or telling him things that he is taking it in and he wants to learn from the more experienced players.

“He’s a big lad and is bigger than I thought he was and he’s hit the ground running.

“He will understand that he will come in and out of the team as Oran’s use of the squad is fantastic but he’s a good lad and a good addition to the squad.”

Allen insists the unpredictability of this year’s Premiership campaign means no teams can take matches for granted.

“They are a good side with quite a lot of young players,” he concluded.

“They have several Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland under-21 players in their squad.

“You just don’t know with this league any more as Glentoran are creeping up, there have been a few funny results and no fans in grounds.

“We have got to be right on it on Saturday and it doesn’t matter who you are playing in this league as the only way you are successful is by preparing for every game and treating them all the same.”