Nick Powell: The Next Paul Scholes

I have watched Manchester United reserves for several years now, and there are always players that stand out to me, but whenever Nick Powell plays, it’s like a breath of fresh air.

He’s such a classy and elegant player, the way he canters through a team’s defence and slips in a ball through to his team mates is mouth watering. He only played twice for the U-21 reserves scoring a wonder goal and assisting Kiko Macheda. He’s got all the tools to become a world-beater. Powell started last year in League 2 with boyhood club Crewe Alexandra and a year later, is seen tackling the Champions League with Manchester United away to Galatasaray – one of the most daunting away trips in all of Europe.

Since Powell graced the pitch at Old Trafford and hit that 20 yard thunderbolt on his début against Wigan, he’s had nothing but positives. He has made five appearances so far this campaign, and when Manchester United welcome Cluj, made his second Champions League appearance and 6th appearance of the season overall.

He looked at home against the Turkish champs two weeks ago, almost scoring from a corner which rattled the cross bar and bossing the midfield. The 18-year-old looked like a long-time pro out there and not someone in his late teens.

Darren Flecther said this about Nick Powell a few weeks ago about his progress so far:

“Nick is coming on leaps and bounds. When a player comes from Crewe you don’t really know what to expect but his touch, awareness, ability and eye for a goal is great.

“I am not saying he is another Scholesy because he is the best player I have ever played with. Let’s just hope [Nick] can concentrate on being Nick Powell because I am sure he will be a great player for Manchester United.”

The boy, who Sir Alex said has the tools to replace Paul Scholes, has got everything you want in a young lad: raw ability, awareness, eye for goal, and a real leader. Like Scholes he’s not the biggest lad of the bunch, but he let’s his football do the talking. Whenever Nick steps out onto that pitch you know he’s something special.

He immediately grabs my attention, and I think, ‘what will he do next’?

I just remember that goal he scored against Wigan and I smile knowing we got an amazing player on our hands.