When Nick Powell first arrived on the scene at Manchester United, he was tipped to do great things at Old Trafford. However, two-and-a-half years on and the 21-year-old’s career at United has yet to take off – but why?
Powell impressed immensely during his senior breakthrough at Crewe Alexandra. The striker’s 14 league goals in 34 starts prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to pay Crewe £4m for the then teenagers’ services.
Yet to make a Premier League start
However, since arriving at Old Trafford, despite netting on his debut in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in September 2012, Powell has yet to make a Premier League start for the 20-time league champions.
Since then, the former England U21 international has been loaned out to Wigan and Leicester City, and rumours suggest that Louis van Gaal is willing to let him go out on loan once again in January.
So why has his Man Utd career never taken off? He certainly has the ability, but we’ve seen this happen time and time again. Maybe a move to a club the size of Manchester United at that stage of his career was the wrong choice.
However, at the same time, you can’t blame a kid for wanting to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Loan move could be what the doctor ordered
A loan move away from the Theatre of Dreams could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Powell and indeed United. The ex-Crewe prodigy is at the stage of his career now where he needs to be playing regular first-team football, and at present, he’s certainly not going to get that at Old Trafford.
It would be great to see Powell re-ignite his career in the lower leagues, and prove to the Red Devils supporters that he was worthy of the £4m fee the club paid for him.
However, nine appearances in all competitions in nearly three years just isn’t good enough, and I think it’s safe to say that Nick Powell’s footballing career has yet to reach its peak.
Written by Gareth Hinton
Follow Gareth on Twitter @Galccfc
Like O-Posts on Facebook
You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts
There are plenty of reasons why his career has stalled. A health scare at the end of his first season with United, then a change of manager and no proper pre-season. Another change of manager even at Wigan, and hamstring problems. Didn’t help himself with a drink-driving offence. Missed most of another pre-season, while United changed their manager again. Something went wrong at Leicester, who knows what? Then a serious hamstring injury in Feb 15, so he missed yet another pre-season, and only got back to playing with the squad again in November. the lad needs games on a regular basis to show to himself and everyone else just what he can do.