Mat Sadler hails Walsall defender as one of the "best in the division"

Allen has reinforced his status as one of the leading forces in League Two this term - registering 11 goals and eight assists in 56 games across all competitions. 

The 24-year-old was named the club's player of the season and was also included in the PFA League Two team of the year alongside fellow teammate Connor Barrett. 

"He is a top all-round leader. We've all seen over the last 18 months how he has grown into one of the best players in the division," Sadler declared. 

Allen has enjoyed a remarkable evolution during Sadler's reign which has seen him successfully convert from wing-back to left centre-back. 

He went four months without starting a league game prior to starting in a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town at Bescot in February 2024. 

Since, Allen has started 62 of their last 64 games in League Two and surpassed a century of appearances for the club in a 2-1 defeat at Colchester United in February.

Allen was sent off during that loss in Essex but demonstrated his leadership qualities by apologising to the supporters in his post-match interview. 

The Cannock-born defender has worn the armband on a handful of occasions this season and Sadler feels he has all the ingredients to be a future club captain.

"I always come into the dressing room at half-time and I ask the players the pictures that they're seeing because sometimes it's very different to ones we're seeing," he continued.

"Taylor is always one alongside others who let us know what is going on from his viewpoint. 

"That's important because as much as we're standing from the side saying what we think, all that really matters is what the players are thinking when the game is going on. 

"It's very difficult to alter that during the game so to have people like that, who've got really good game understanding but can also voice that and articulate that, is captain material, that's for sure."