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FOR one Wales star, it really is the Theatre of Dreams.

Now Joe Allen wants fantasy to become reality when Swansea City head to Old Trafford next week.

And that’s why he’s keeping fingers crossed for Ryan Giggs and co to win the Manchester showdown with title rivals City tomorrow night.

Swans midfield ace Allen is a self-confessed schoolboy United fan so there’s little wonder he’d rather the red side in the race triumph tomorrow.

Because victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would set the wheels in motion for a possible scenario that would start with United lifting the trophy – and ending with one of the biggest results in Swansea City history!

Should United win tomorrow over City and then Roberto Mancini’s men fail to win against Newcastle in next Sunday’s early kick-off, Fergie’s side will already be crowned champions before the Swans kick off at Old Trafford at 4pm.

And then there’s the small matter of helping Brendan Rodgers’ men upset the presentation party with the club’s first win at the home of the self-styled biggest club in the world.

Yet Allen says he has an even greater motivator to impress next week as he lines up against a hero he claims to have modelled his game on.

“It will be a very special game for me,” said the seven-cap midfielder, nearing the end of a quite superb debut season in the Premier League.

“I’m sure Old Trafford is a place all the players have been dreaming of playing at.

“We probably thought it would never happen.

“When the fixtures came out it was one I looked for – I’m a boyhood United fan and I can’t wait to go there and pit my wits against players like Giggs and Paul Scholes.

“Giggs was always someone I looked out because he was a Welshman and a fantastic player. But, from my own football point of view, I looked up to Roy Keane and Scholes, who was my hero as a kid.

“I really studied the way they played as much as I could when I was trying to make it as a footballer.

“And when Scholes retired at the end of last season I was disappointed because I thought I would never get the chance to be on the same pitch and line up alongside him.

“Thankfully he has come out of retirement so I get that chance.”

Scholes, 37, has been a revelation since returning from the retirement he announced at the end of last season, even sneaking into late running for player of the year as he spearheaded United’s surge for the title.

And Allen added: “Since he has come back he has shown how good he is. To be out of the game since the backend of last season and come straight back in shows he is a true great.

“When you see the effect he has had on Manchester United since his return says it all for the ability he has.”

But if Allen has tried to emulate the Man Utd great, he’s not done too bad a job of it.

An ability to pass to perfection both over short and long range (managing 100% accuracy against Bolton last week), he can switch the direction of play to devastating effect.

And there is the same tenacity needed to add a bit of steel to midfields full of style – although Allen’s tackling edges that of Scholes’ awkward attempts to master the art.

You won’t catch the modest playmaker admitting he’s anywhere near the level of Scholes – even if Wales fans drooling at the prospect of him linking up with Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley and Jack Collison might for the World Cup qualifiers might.

But he does admit that he’s looking forward to the prospect of heading to Old Trafford next week as Swansea look to finish their season with a real bang against his boyhood idols.

“I’ve always been a United fan, but this season I’ve distanced myself and not focused on how they are doing,” said the 22-year-old, part of the Swans side that put Fergie’s men in the title driving seat with that 1-0 win over Man City last month. “But in saying that, Monday night is a game the whole footballing world will be watching.

“It’s difficult to pick which way it will go.

“I’d like to think United can win the title. Both teams have been evenly matched and I’m sure there will be more twists and turns even with just three games to go.

“But it will be a pretty good day if we can get a result and they are champions.”