Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen says the Premier League is just as physical as the Championship.

Allen, tipped for big things by manager Brendan Rodgers, is revelling in his first season in the top flight - though he admitted life is no easier on the little men in the Premier League than it was in the Championship.

"We took a few bumps and bruises out there against Stoke," he said. "A few people will be hurting this week.

"People said we'd get more time on the ball in the Premier League and that it would be less physical. But so far that has been a little bit of a myth.

"They say the Championship is more physical but I'm not so sure. There's obviously a massive gap in other aspects of the game, but I think the Premier League can be just as physical.' "

Allen added: "We knew it would take us a few games to used to the quality and the pace of the Premier League. The teams and players are all new to us. But we feel we've settled in."