Manchester City Test Will Be A Measure Of Nick Powell's Wigan Revival

Manchester City Test Will Be A Measure Of Nick Powell's Wigan Revival
16:06, 18 Feb 2018

As his career wound down, Alex Ferguson was forced to make a number of speculative signings in his final few years at Manchester United. The club's owners, the Glazer family, were unwilling to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for lavish new arrivals, not to mention the most powerful clubs in the rest of Europe. Instead they hoped to eke the most out of a patchwork squad and their manager's inspirational qualities instead. 

Ahead of the 2012-13 season, which marks the last time United won the Premier League title, Ferguson was granted one last indulgence. Robin van Persie arrived from Arsenal to great effect, while that summer's other signings were unfamiliar with the league and carried no such guarantees of making a seamless transition. It's fair to say that Shinji Kagawa, Alexander Buttner, Angelo Henriquez and Nick Powell didn't quite turn out as planned.

Ferguson had particularly high hopes for Powell, who he tipped to replace Paul Scholes as a mainstay of the Manchester United midfield for years to come. Still a teenager, he had progressed through the Crewe Alexandra youth system and forged a reputation as a promising attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. He was increasingly used up front in his final season. Yet Ferguson’s plan was to convert him into a deeper lying playmaker who could set the tempo, controlling games with his touch and range of passing. It was assumed that he’d be an England regular by now.

A little rough and ready, the raw ingredients were there all the same. He scored on his Premier League debut, in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic, dropping his shoulder to come inside and smash a shot past Ali Al-Habsi. Ferguson lavished praise upon him after the game. “Nick Powell is going to be a really good player.” he said. “He has a great temperament, is two-footed and quick. He is a good physical specimen and has terrific vision. We hope Powell fills Paul Scholes’ boots. For an 18-year-old boy it has been a terrific day.”

Unfortunately, that was as good as it ever got for him at United. Powell soon disappeared from view. Injuries stymied his progress but the standards expected at Old Trafford were far higher than he'd been used to and his commitment was found wanting. Failing to blossom as expected, he lost his way and fell out of love with football. His focus wandered.

After a few loan spells, Powell made his final Manchester United appearances under Louis van Gaal, in the midst of an injury crisis at the club during December 2015. He was infamously subbed on for Juan Mata against Wolfsburg as they unsuccessfully chased the win required to avoid being knocked out of the Champions League, and also tasted defeat away to Bournemouth. In both instances Powell’s presence was seen as a reminder of the major surgery that still needed to be carried out on the United squad.

Inevitably released when his contract expired in the summer of 2016, Powell has been quietly rebuilding his reputation at Wigan ever since. At long last, it seems as though things are starting to click, admittedly at a far lower level than he’d like. As the Latics compete for promotion from League One, he’s become an integral figure, scoring 12 goals. There have been some efforts in that total too. He’s still prone to sauntering around the pitch, but with a bit more purpose.

His exploits attracted the attention of several Championship clubs in the January transfer window, and even some deadline day bids from top flight Brighton. Powell stayed put, however, and the extent of his revival will be tested in the highly-anticipated FA Cup fifth round clash with Manchester City. It’s a chance to show that despite previous mistakes and misgivings he belongs at the highest level after all.

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