York City 'feels like home' for new addition Charlie Allen

Allen completed a one-month loan switch to York on Monday afternoon from Sky Bet Championship outfit Leeds United, joining a City side challenging for safety in the Vanarama National League. 

The 20-year-old admitted that the LNER Community Stadium already feels like home to Allen, with Leeds' academy sides regularly featuring at York's home, as the winger prepares for a potential debut against Oldham this evening. 

Allen has already had an opportunity to meet his teammates and explained what first-team boss Neal Ardley has demanded from him, with the City loanee hoping to make the most of his loan stay.

"It feels like home already," Allen told the York media team.

“I’m feeling good, I can’t wait to get going. The stadium is class, I’ve played a few games here this season so the room hasn’t really changed for me really.

"It suits me as a player, so I’m delighted with it.

"I’ve been doing well, but I’m quite harsh on myself so I  probably should have had more goals and assists this season, hopefully when I come here I can provide that.

"They were good, they are a really good bunch of lads and they’ve made me feel really welcome.

"They seem like a good bunch to be around, there’s Paddy McLaughlin who is Northern Irish.

"I know a few of them from before, Kai Kennedy I know from Rangers.

"I spoke to him this morning, he told me what he wants and what to expect and he told me to be confident in myself.

"He seems like a really good manager and passes that onto the players, he knows what he’s doing.

"They’re a fighting team, they don’t want to lose and they want to stay in games, there is a fighting spirit there.

"Even today in training, you could see it today that they expect high standards of each other."

The youngster arrives to York with experience behind him, having made his debut for Northern Irish top division outfit Linfield at just 15-years-old. 

Allen went on to claim an assist in his Linfield debut before earning a move to then-Premier League side Leeds in 2020, with the winger making an immediate impression to earn a call-up to the Northern Ireland under-17's. 

"I was delighted with it really, it was always something I wanted to do, playing at the highest level that I could.

"Leeds were in the Premier League when I first came and were a Premier League club, so it was the highest I could go really at that point.

"Ever since I could walk I’ve been kicking a ball, it’s all I know really.

"I was on the bench and wasn’t expecting to come on, I was just happy on the bench and then the gaffer called me and said I was getting on for the last ten minutes.

"I was buzzing, my mum and dad, cousins, were all in the stand so I was delighted with it.

"I went on and assisted the equaliser, so it made my day really.

"We’ve had a few qualifiers there in recent months and we’ve done well there, we’ve got a few more coming up in the next few months so it’s good.

"Ultimately I want to jump up to the (Northern Ireland) first team, it would be a dream come true really."

Allen also explained what City supporters can expect from their new man, and discussed how he can handle the step back into men's football after predominantly featuring for Leeds' academy side.

"I’ll play as a winger, so out wide, I’ll be direct, quick, one-on-one, that’s the type of player that I am.

"It’ll be a tough league, from what I’ve seen, I have to make sure I’m up for that.

"It’s massive, there are big strong lads in the Premier League 2 but men’s football is a whole different game.

"They’re experienced, they’re more experienced than any Premier League 2 player and they know the game well. That brings a massive factor."