Joe Allen | We have to dust ourselves down and be ready to go

Joe Allen has urged Swansea City to dust themselves down and be ready to produce on the road at Blackpool this weekend.

The midfielder made his return to Swans colours in the midweek Carabao Cup clash at Oxford, pulling on the white shirt for the first time in 3,741 days, having last appeared for his boyhood club in a Premier League win over Liverpool in May 2012.

Sadly, his comeback would not have the ending Allen and his team-mates wanted as they lost out following a penalty shoot-out at the Kassam Stadium on a night where nine Championship clubs exited the competition at the hands of teams from League One or League Two.

Allen admitted it was a disappointing outcome after the Swans had put themselves in a strong position to progress after an excellent first hour, but insists it is now key for the squad to show their character and togetherness against the Seasiders at Bloomfield Road.

“It’s obviously not how I wanted it to end up, I came on with the side winning comfortably and we’ve ended up losing so it’s really disappointing,” said the Wales international.

“I am really grateful for the reception I got from the supporters when I came on, even when I was warming up. It was incredible and it has been a long time coming.

“It was great to put the shirt on, it always is, I just wish it could have been a result to go with it.

“But we have to now make sure we get ready to play in the league again, all the boys are determined to make sure we are ready to go and perform and get a result.

“It’s vital we bounce back, we all know that. We had a disappointment against Blackburn and I don’t think anyone could say they did not see a positive reaction over the first hour or so in midweek.

“We should have seen it out and made sure we were in the next round, I am sure the younger lads will learn a lot from what happened.

“But the main thing now is to dust ourselves down and get ready to get a result against Blackpool on Saturday.”