Stoke City boss Mark Hughes believes the signing of Joe Allen this summer has proven to be 'bargain' after the midfielder's fine start to the season, as reported by theStoke Sentinel.
The Wales international, 26, managed to secure Stoke's first three points in the Premier League this season with his brace in the 2-0 win over Sunderland this weekend. It takes his tally to four goals in eight league games since his £13m move from Liverpool during the summer transfer window.
Manager Mark Hughes believes the fee to bring Allen to the Bet365 stadium was a 'bargain' in today's transfer market.
"In the current market, you have to say he's a bargain," the former Manchester City boss said.
"For us to bring him here, I think we've done a great bit of business to be perfectly honest. Sometimes the stars align and you can bring in a player you didn't think you were going to get.
"Thankfully we were able to get it over the line and since he's been here he's been a breath of fresh air, on and off the pitch."
The former Swansea midfielder has scored five goals in his last four matches for both club and country and Hughes has admitted he did not anticipate Allen's goal-scoring prowess.
"Sometimes you admire players from afar," Hughes added,"and until you get the opportunity to work with them you don't realise what you've got in the building. If we are being honest, we weren't sure we had got a goal-scoring midfielder.
"His anticipation of where any ball is going to land anywhere on the pitch is really good, so the thinking was that if we can get him into the final third with his anticipation, things could happen."