NICK POWELL
A player who embodies this Wigan team – Powell is just too good for League One and he plays with a swagger that suggests he’s well aware of the fact.
His natural ability has never been in doubt. Manchester United simply do not invest time and money bringing in other teams’ starlets unless there’s a genuine chance they could reach the very top. Why would they, given the swathes of academy talent they stockpile for each year group?
But Powell’s time at Old Trafford is becoming a footnote of his career rather than a defining failure, as he proves the talisman in Wigan’s attempt to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Twelve league goals by mid-march tell only part of the story; Powell is a gifted No.10 who can dictate matches with his silky touch and creative abilities.
Paul Cook’s Latics haven’t been outside the top six all season, and were last out of the top three at the end of September. Victories such as the 7-0 rout at Oxford United, which came a week after a 4-0 triumph at AFC Wimbledon, confirmed what fans already knew; that Dan Burn, Will Grigg, Michael Jacobs & Co. were all quality players at this level. However, Powell has remained the standout performer.
Unlike some other burgeoning talents in the Football League, Powell’s ability was no secret from clubs up the pyramid and some began to circle in January. Brighton had offers rejected and Aston Villa were thought to be keen, but it was reported Powell would snub any move should the Wigan board accept an offer.
At 18, Powell had swapped the red of Crewe for Manchester, and he appears in no rush to move again. At 24, Powell is still a frightening talent who surely has a Premier League future, but he’s in no rush to get there. He’s a player who seemingly thrives on being the big fish in a small pond.
Wigan look set to tackle the Championship again next season and will be better equipped with Cook at the helm. Powell, like Wigan, will want to get back to the top and Latics addicts hope it’s him who drags them there.
POWELL’S TIME AT OLD TRAFFORD IS BECOMING A FOOTNOTE INSTEAD OF A DEFINING FAILURE AS HE PROPELS THE LATICS