According to Mark Hughes the stars were in perfect alignment when £13million ‘bargain’ Joe Allen agreed to make the switch from Liverpool to Stoke in the summer.
Stellar interference or not, the Welsh galactico’s performances have been on a different planet despite his team’s struggling start to the season.
Midfielder Allen, scorer of both goals in a comfortable win over Sunderland, has added clinical finishing and leadership qualities to his trademark passing game.
‘There was a lot of thinking behind getting him here,’ admitted Hughes.