MICHAEL Allen was born and bred in Belfast and played for Ulster for six years from the age of 18. But in one crucial sense, he never felt at home there – because he all too rarely got to play in his preferred position.

Now with Edinburgh, the 24-year-old knows there is no guarantee of getting to wear the No 13 jersey week after week, but he is sure that Alan Solomons, the head coach, will give him a fair crack of the whip. For that reason, leaving his home town was not as tough as he may have thought.

“To tell you the truth it wasn’t too hard a decision,” he says. “Personally I didn’t feel I’d achieved enough of my goals at Ulster. [I] played a few times and got on a couple of the Irish emerging tours, but I had set slightly higher goals for myself at this stage of my career.

“I thought the best way to do that was to go to play rugby at a team that would offer more opportunities to play – especially in the position I’m more comfortable at, outside centre. I’ve only played there a few times professionally, but every time I go in to play I’m much more confident and comfortable there as opposed to being on the wing.

“Needs must, and I’m not going to say no to playing. I ended up playing nearly every position in the back line for Ulster, barring nine and 10, and maybe not 15. But I want to try to establish myself at 13.”

When the injuries start to mount up, Allen’s versatility might lead him to be used elsewhere in the back division. But, having been told during his signing talks that Edinburgh needed a 13, he is sure he will be given the chance to establish himself there.

“There was interest from a few clubs and I didn’t really know where I was going. Alan spoke to me and was so positive. It was so nice to hear from a coach: ‘You could do well over here – we need you. We could do with a 13’. That was a driving factor with me in coming here. I’m here primarily as a 13. If Alan needs me to play in any other position I’ll happily do it, but primarily I want to play in the position I think I’m best at.”

After three weeks of demanding strength and conditioning sessions, Allen is more than ready for the more rugby-oriented training that will begin this week. “It’ll probably go down as the toughest pre-season I’ve done,” he admits. “Just for the different aspects of conditioning that they do. It was tough, but it was really enjoyable. I feel brilliant for it. I feel strong.”