Manchester United announced the signing of Nick Powell last night, what impact can he make at Old Trafford next season?
The signing of Nick Powell – who moves from Crewe Alexandra to Old Trafford is an exciting one, because of the intrigue over whether a player so young can make a big impact on the first team.
Powell is highly rated, Sir Alex Ferguson spoke glowingly of his potential, and it appears the club have signed a real diamond – He was outstanding at Crewe last season.
“I’m delighted he has chosen to come to United. He has a lot to offer and we are all looking forward to working with him.”
He helped the Railwaymen clinch promotion from League Two to League One, but the jump to Premier League football will be a big one – three levels – and then there is the prospect of Champions League football too.
If Powell really is the real deal, he will have little difficulty adjusting to the step up regardless of the demands. He is an England youth international and knows what it is like to compete with and against the very best in his age group, and playing in the lower leagues will have given him a well-rounded football grounding which many academy youngsters at Old Trafford have to go out on loan to experience, with mixed success.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain jumped from League One to the Premier League last season to sign with Arsenal, and he made the transition look simple enough, and is now starring for his country at Euro 2012. Powell, 18, will aim for similar success and impact.
Powell’s position is an interesting one, he is neither an orthodox striker or midfielder, liking to play between the lines similarly to Wayne Rooney, linking attack and midfield. It was this which allowed him to score 16 goals last season. Yet Rooney is so unique we would we wary of making such pressured comparisons- although Powell will clearly be hoping to follow Wayne’s path into the international set up.
The arrival of another signing, Shinji Kagawa, has caused much speculation and logic that Rooney will play further forward as an out and out striker next year, after all they can’t both play in the number 10 position.
Kagawa, signed for £12 million for Borussia Dortmund is an exciting player who will slot into United’s first team. It may just be that Nick Powell, who plays in the same position – will be his understudy.
It does not appear that United are going to loan Powell out and see him very much as part of their plans for next season. It will be up to him to show in pre-season that he has the confidence and ability not to be daunted by his surroundings.
He is a young player who should hold no fear, that will be an asset in itself, and with teammates as talented as United’s he has a great chance of making the step up. If he goes into the season as an understudy to Kagawa, he can feel his way into life at United through appearances off the bench, and starts against so-called lesser opposition.
United may just hope their plans are not complicated by Stuart Pearce calling him into the Olympic squad, but if it happens, that too could be good for his career. All the signs are there that United have bagged an absolute bargain.
How do you see Powell fitting in next season?
images: © birdies-perch
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