Joe happy at Pirelli as new deal in pipeline
JOE Powell has suggested that he could be open to staying with Burton Albion next season.
The talented midfielder is coming to the end of a two-and-a-half year deal which was his first in senior football.
The Londoner opted to leave West Ham United in January, 2020, after being with them since the age of eight.
He was quickly popular with Burton supporters, scoring on his full debut away to AFC Wimbledon, within a short journey of his family home.
Powell, now 23, has made 92 appearances for Burton, scoring 16 goals.
He was brought to the club by Nigel Clough, has since worked under Jake Buxton and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – and all three managers have lauded his ability while calling for more consistency from him. It is a requirement Powell recognises.
Last week, Hasselbaink indicated that the midfielder would be offered a new contract.
“I love the club, ever since I’ve been here,” said Powell.
“I was brought in by Nigel, now Jimmy’s here and we had Bucko along the way, and everyone’s been brilliant with me, so we’ll see where it goes.
“My time here has gone so fast. I came in and then, after 10 games, we had Covid, so it’s been a bit of a rocky two-and-a-half years but it has certainly gone quickly.”
Powell’s search for consistency is mirrored by the team’s.
“I think Jimmy and Dino (Maamria) have done well – obviously, they did brilliantly when they first came in – and now it’s just trying to take that next step to push a bit harder,” said Powell.
“We’ve been inconsistent as a team but we have to take that on the chin as a team and, hopefully, try to be better next year.
“They have persevered with me quite a lot.
“There have been ups and downs, between us and with my football but they know about my ability and what I’m capable of, those little moments of brilliance I can bring.
“They’ve stuck by me and it’s a shame I’ve not brought some more goals and assists.
“As a player, you always look at the people who are doing the best of the best and you know you’re capable of it but consistency is huge.
“Season by season, I am trying to get stronger.
“Not in terms of goals and assists but in terms of consistency, this has probably been my strongest season so far, really, so I’ll take that into next year and I’ll aspire to achieve some better stuff.”
Hasselbaink has alluded to January stalling Burton’s season, as they lost Kane Hemmings, Lucas Akins, Tom O’Connor and the recalled Daniel Jebbison.
Powell was asked how disruptive the transfer window felt in the camp.
“I think it changes the morale, definitely, but it’s the same at every club in every window,” he said.
“You get the changes which come every six months, there will always be a few turnarounds.
“You say your goodbyes and you stay in touch with people but then it’s about kicking on and I don’t think it had too much of an effect.”
Of more importance, he noted, is the frustration of having done well against some of the promotionchasing sides but slipping up against teams lower in the division.
“We’ve had some better results in the last few weeks against some of the teams we weren’t expected to and then, against some teams lower in the league than us, we haven’t had the results. It’s not the way we want to go,” he added.