Swansea's Garry Monk not surprised by Joe Allen's successful move to Liverpool

Garry Monk: Looking forward to seeing old team mate Joe Allen

Garry Monk will be pleased to see former team-mate Joe Allen at Anfield but is unsure what reception Brendan Rodgers will get from Swansea fans.

Allen faces his old club for the first time since his summer transfer when Liverpool host the Swans in the Capital One Cup tonight.

The Wales international followed Rodgers to Merseyside after Liverpool replaced Kenny Dalglish with the highly-rated Northern Irishman.

22-year-old Allen has become a regular pick in the Reds' midfield, and Monk is not surprised to see him adapt to life at Liverpool so comfortably.

"He is a top player. Everyone knows his quality as a player, and he is a great lad too," Monk declared.

"A few of us have had a bit of banter with him, winding each other up. But it will be great to see him, I am really glad to see he is doing so well.

"He is a great lad and a great talent and he is proving it now at a very high level."

How Rodgers will be received by Swansea supporters following his departure from the Liberty Stadium is less clear-cut for Monk, whose only appearance this season came in the Capital One Cup win over Crawley.

"When you look at it, it is the hardest hurdle to make it from the Championship to the Premier League, and then to sustain it," Monk added.

"We managed to sustain it convincingly during the first season and that has given us the platform to push on into the second season.

"It is important the fans remember that but we are there to win a game, all that matters is what we do as Swansea City.

"I think if a few want to show their views that is up to them but the main thing I would say to the fans is back the team from start to finish, whatever you do before or after the game is entirely up to them, but during that 90 minutes just focus on the boys on the field as that is all that matters."