Judging by the 26-year old's all-around excellence in a variety of midfield roles, it is not an idle boast.
“We’re getting so much from Nick,” added the Northern Irishman. “We’ve played him all over the place and he always gives everything. He’s been a very important player for us this season.”
Like Jack Grealish at Villa, Powell is a difficult player to pigeonhole. He is a natural No.10 with the technique and composure to play as a striker, the close control to function out wide, and the intelligence to operate from deep.
Wherever he is deployed, however, Powell has long been regarded as one of the most accomplished players outside the Premier League, even when he was plying his trade with Wigan Athletic in League One.
Schooled at Crewe Alexandra, Powell became the youngest player in the club’s history when he made his debut as a 16-year-old in 2010.
He played a further 63 games for the Railwaymen, capping his stay with a League Two Player of the Year award and a wonder goal at Wembley as Cheltenham Town were vanquished in the 2012 play-off final.
This story is from the January 03, 2021 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 03, 2021 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CALLUM GLEE AT 'CRAZY' SUCCESS
Pompey new-boy savours triumph
EVANS VOWS TO LIFT MILLERS
STEVE Evans has promised to bring \"confidence and swagger\" back to relegated Rotherham after completing a sensational return to the New York Stadium.
CHOUDHURY'S HEROICS SAVE DAY AS FOXES BACK ON TOP
The job is not done yet, says Maresca
DUTCH MASTER CRY IS THE KING
GRYSENCIO merville Sumbeat off some stiff competition to be named the Championship Player of the Season at the EFL Awards,
'THESE ARE THE DAYS TO SAVOUR AS A PLAYER'
THE last time Eoghan O’Connell won promotion from League Two, things didn’t go as he would have liked.
Brazilian lynchpin ticks all the boxes
ALI Al-Hamadi was not best pleased by his Ipswich teammate Sam Morsy's omission from the Championship Team of the Season.
Chris Dunlavy A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL
Prem unlikely, but Sammie’s class act
'WE HAD NO HOPE, BUT NOW WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE'
As DAVE Challinor basks in the glow of Stockport County’s promotion to League One, he takes a moment to reflect on the day he joined the club as a player in 2002.
PARKY WON'T EASE UP JUST YET
WREXHAM boss Phil Parkinson admitted his team owed it to the \"integrity of the league\" not to take their foot off the gas after securing promotion.
BUCKINGHAM PANS OFFICIALS AFTER BORO FRUSTRATE U'S
DES Buckingham blamed another penalty decision for Oxford United’s failure to claim a vital victory as his play-off chasing side were held at home by manager-less Stevenage.