Leicester City’s Craig Shakespeare says that Manchester United loanee Nick Powell must learn about the work-rate required at the club.
Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare says that he was impressed by the performance of Nick Powell in the club’s friendly this week.
The Foxes took on Aston Villa and won 3-2, as they looked to get a some match practice into their fringe players over the international break.
Powell scored in the match, but Shakespeare was more impressed by the work-rate which he showed during his time on the pitch.
“We’ve been on to him to make sure he knows that the work ethic is very big here at Leicester,” he said to the club’s official site.
“I thought today he scored a good goal but his overall performance, with and without the ball, was very good.”
Powell will be hoping that Shakespeare reports back to Nigel Pearson with a glowing endorsement of his performance, as he would not have come to the King Power to be playing for the reserves.
Manchester United would have been expected him to get first-team football when they agreed to loan him out and it will be crucial for his development.
The youngster was one of the Football League’s hottest prospects as a teenager, when he was with Crewe, but his career is in danger of stagnating now.
Powell has been sent out on loan twice in as many seasons and he will be hoping to impress enough at Leicester to convince his parent club he is able to play a part next season.
The question is whether or not he is ready for the first team. This would be Powell’s first taste of regular top-level football and there is always a danger of throwing youngsters in who have little experience.
That said the 21-year-old is undoubtedly talented and he would add more to Leicester’s attack than they currently have.
The side have started the season brilliantly, but Powell has got more creative qualities about him than the likes of Dean Hammond, Esteban Cambiasso, Danny Drinkwater, Matty James or Andy King, who offer all-action performances in the midfield.
It seems that this sort of work-rate it what Leicester are trying to get Powell to emulate before throwing him in, but they could be well served by putting him in now whilst the pressure is off – after a superb start – rather than risking him when they may need his quality later in the season.
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