Nick Powell the magic man
Three things that will make or break our season: A) Nick Powell staying. B) Nick Powell staying fit. C) Nick Powell staying motivated. If all three of those things happen, we go up as champions. Simple as that. A fully fit and hungry Powell is a Premier League footballer.
If Powell leaves, of course we have ready-made – albeit more makeshift – replacements in Alex Gilbey and Jordan Flores. Promotion would still be expected as well: but Powell is a match winner. Latics have started the season brilliantly, performance and result wise, so it’s unfair to single out one player. However, Powell will make the difference when everything isn’t going perfect. He can score from nothing, create goals, he’s got the lot.
What impresses me most personally about Powell is his versatility and range of skill. He could play central midfield and dictate the game. He can play in-behind the striker and create chances for fun. Or as he did on Sunday against Bury, higher up the pitch and score goals, his positioning for the first goal was excellently matched by the finish, then he has the confidence to bury a penalty. That’s why I fear we will keep hold of Powell, he can play anywhere on the pitch and do a very good job.
Paul Cook sent Powell to Everton’s training ground, Finch Farm, over the summer in order to put an end to the long-term niggling injuries. I must say, Powell never looks fully fit and raring to go, but that’s his nonchalant style. Whether he does stay or go, I hope he’s managed to put the injury problems behind him, because there’s a player with a huge amount of talent. He’s only 23 which people sometimes forget. A couple of injury free, successful seasons and we could be seeing Powell play at the top of English football.
Please stay Nick. We fancy getting 100 points this time around.
Absolutely agree. What is somewhat reassuring is that he seems to be incredibly happy at Wigan at the moment – he gets on really well with his teammates, he plays well under Cook (who thinks of Powell very highly) and he seems to enjoy being the worldbeater of the league in this level. If you had told me at the end of last season that Powell would stay I would’ve thought you were lying but now it really does seem like he is settled in this squad for the time being – something football fans haven’t seen much of from him throughout his loan-laden and injury stricken career so far.