Sport

Manchester United exile Nick Powell named Crewe Alexandra’s best ever player in 125th anniversary poll

Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell has been voted Crewe Alexandra’s best ever player to mark the Football League’s 125th Anniversary celebrations.

The 20-year-old, who is currently on loan at Wigan Athletic, beat off competition from England internationals Dean Ashton, David Platt and Danny Murphy to scoop 35% of the votes in a fan poll.

Former West Ham star Ashton came second with 24%, narrowly ahead of World Cup 1990 hero Platt (21%) and ex-Liverpool man Murphy (15%)

Frank Blunstone, who later made his name in a decade-long spell at Chelsea in the 1950s and 60s rounded out the top-five.

The Cheshire side – famed for their youth system which can claim to have raised more than £20million from academy graduates – took on Powell when he was just five years old, and gave him his first-team break in 2010 at the age of 16 

In 2012, Powell was instrumental in leading Crewe to promotion, scoring 16 goals in 45 appearances including a long-distance thunderbolt against Gillingham that was named Goal of the Season.

Powell hit another wonder goal in the 2012 League Two play-off Final – his final appearance for the club – before moving to Manchester United for a reported £6million fee.

Opportunities at Old Trafford have been limited however, and the midfielder has only appeared twice for United’s first-team.

Powell struck his only goal for the club in a 4-0 against Wigan before moving to the Latics on a season-long loan deal in September last year.

Following in the footsteps of fellow United star Tom Cleverley, Powell has impressed as a part of Uwe Rosler’s FA Cup semi-final-reaching side, and has notched seven goals in 26 appearances.

Image courtesy of Sky Sports, with thanks.

Related Articles