Stoke City fullback Glen Johnson is backing their move for Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen.

Johnson left the Reds last summer for the Potteries.

“He's a fantastic player," said Johnson to The Sentinel. “I obviously worked with him at Liverpool and he's a great lad.

“I personally would love to have him here. I think he would be brilliant for the squad and for the team.

“He's one of those players, you know as well as I do, who gets the game going. He's a busy man in the middle of the park."