Joe Allen was his usual modest self as he played down comparisons with Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey
Allen's talent was compared to that of £5m Ramsey by Ferrie Bodde after the Dutchman completed his return from injury against Bristol City on Tuesday night.
Ferrie tipped Allen to be at one of the Premier League's top clubs within a few years and believed that the young Welsh star was an integral part of the Swans midfield.
But Allen - ever the modest man - played down those comparisons and told the Western Mail “I think I owe a lot to Ferrie after those comments, he has added a lot of value to my name.
“It’s very nice to hear those things from someone I really look up to in this team and try to learn from. But maybe he is overexaggerating a bit.
“I don’t really think the comparison with Aaron is a fair one. But it’s one that seems to be made quite often.
“Everyone knows how special Aaron is. He is playing Champions League and international football, so, while it’s nice to be compared to someone like him, it is probably a bit out of context.
“I just see it as a big confidence booster really. I’m not someone that struggles for confidence, but performances are improved when you feel good about yourself.
“Hearing it from Ferrie in particular makes it extra special for me. I have learnt a lot from him and there’s still a lot more to come.
“I’m a very ambitious in the sense that I do want to play at the highest level I can,” he said. “So I do want to play Premiership football.
“But I can’t see myself, definitely not in the foreseeable future, leaving Swansea. I’ve always said that my ideal dream would be to play in the Premiership with Swansea.
“There’s a lot of things that could happen and over the next few years I just need to make sure my game keeps progressing. Hopefully then I will reach the heights that Ferrie mentioned.
“Everyone knows I’ve been very lucky here. There are a lot of managers out there that I wouldn’t be their kind of player and I wouldn’t have featured, especially not at my age, size and weight.
“I have been blessed in the sense that the managers here have been willing to take a chance on me. They have both been central midfielders as well and, with the other players I have alongside me, I couldn’t really ask for more.
“So the overall message is that I am very, very happy here. I’ve been here since the age of nine and this is almost like my testimonial year now.
“My love story with Swansea is still going. This is just the start."