Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen admits Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was his hero.

The 21-year-old Allen, all 5fy 6ins of him, says watching the former Manchester United and England star play convinced him his size wouldn't stop him making the grade.

He said: "It's funny that there are a lot of players who aren't so tall who are making an impact in the Premier League at the moment. Somebody said to me that small is the new big!

"But I think it's something all small players have to deal with at some point in their career when they are told they might not be big enough to make it.

"When you are younger there are some disadvantages, but I always kept the faith.

"There were disappointments, and you can't help but doubt sometimes that your height might go against you. But you look at some of the players around and you realise some of the best players in the world are smaller, and that you can do it. Scholes was especially one of them.

"I am a Manchester United fan so I grew up watching them week in and week out, and I did admire him. It's only unfortunate that I have come into the Premier League a year too late to play against him.

"I am not saying that my game is modelled on how he played. I just admired him.

"The list could go on and on of smaller players I admire, but he stands out at the top of them."