Nick Powell: Is Manchester United Prospect Another Ravel Morrison?

Manchester United prospect Nick Powell should be Leicester City's shining light as the Foxes frenetically fight to stay in the Premier League, but he is emulating Ravel Morrison's self-destructive behaviour.

Instead of starring for Leicester City, Powell is another nagging thought in Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's mind, who should ask the 20-year-old English midfielder: "Nick, what is wrong with you?"

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson prematurely nixed Powell's loan due to his aloof demeanour to training, per John Percy at The Telegraph.

Percy initially reported that Leicester City's coaching staff were miffed with Powell's deteriorating attitude 26 days ago.

It is a damning indictment that Powell failed to improve his conduct despite being given a three-week reprieve.

Considering Pearson is under intense pressure to keep his job, it is unreasonable to say he should have treated Powell with kid-gloves. 

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Nigel Pearson allegedly tells a fan to 'F**k off and die,’ but won’t apologise: http://t.co/TjapPQEPG8 pic.twitter.com/1WDpxXJQMZ

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 5, 2014"

Powell said the right things when he joined Leicester City, but he did not live up to his word.

"I could go to the Championship and play week in, week out, but the Premier League is the next step and I feel like Leicester City gave me that opportunity," Powell said, per LCFC.com. "I've had a chat with [Pearson] and he said I've got to fit into the team and do what the boys do."

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made passing comments on Powell, which are now red flags with the benefit of hindsight.

Per Ferguson's autobiography:

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[Manchester United chief scout] Jim Lawlor went to look at [Powell] and said he was interesting, though he was not sure what his best position would be and thought he might be a wee bit laid-back.

[...]

[Powell is] quite a detached figure, good at switching off, but he's a player, believe me.

"

"Not sure what [Powell's] best position would be."

Ferguson viewed Powell as the successor to Paul Scholes, a visionary midfielder, who was a complete passer. 

"Powell is going to be a really good player who, we hope, will fill Paul Scholes' boots," Ferguson said, per Mark Froggatt at ManUtd.com. "[Powell has] got terrific vision, good temperament, two great feet, is quick and is a great striker of the ball."

Yet when Powell was on loan at Wigan Athletic, then manager Uwe Rosler disagreed with Ferguson's opinion. 

"I see Nick Powell more as a front player ... than I see him as a midfielder," Rosler said, per Simon Bajkowski at the Manchester Evening News. "I'm delighted to have him back because he's our top scorer."

Powell led Wigan Athletic in shots per game (2.9) and was tied with Jordi Gomez for most Championship goals (seven) by a Latics player last season.

Pearson using Leonardo Ulloa, Jamie Vardy and David Nugent prevented Powell's preference of playing an advanced role at Leicester City from becoming a reality.

"I am best suited in the No. 10 role, where I can get space, turn and take the attacking options," Powell said, per the Leicester Mercury. "But as I discussed with [Pearson], I can play in a number of positions."

Playing 40 minutes in three substitute appearances indicates Pearson did not rate Powell as a Premier League-standard No. 8, 10 or 11.

"[Powell] might be a wee bit laid-back ... he's quite a detached figure."

You can interpret Lawlor's "a bit laid-back" observation as Powell being lazy or passive.

Neither characteristic would have endeared him to Pearson.

Ferguson revealing Powell is a "detached figure" foreshadowed his Leicester City ignominy.

Once Powell came to the realisation of not being part of Leicester City's first-team set-up, he switched off in training, according to Percy's report.

This is not a one-off regarding Powell's character issues because he pleaded guilty to drunk driving during his stint at Wigan Athletic, per the Wigan Today.

Powell has problems like Morrison, per Daniel Taylor at The Observer (h/t The Guardian):

"

On the football pitch, [Morrison] plays with finesse and confidence. In court, he was described as vulnerable and fragile.

The picture that emerged was of someone who acts compulsively and does not think of the consequences.

[...]

Lesser players have moved up, which he has found hard to take. Ferguson told him he would be, too, but only if he managed three months without skipping a session.

Morrison does not work that way.

His life at Manchester United has become a story of no-shows, stand-up rows and other disciplinary matters.

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Harry Redknapp, who managed Morrison at Queens Park Rangers, ominously projected the troubled youngster's career.

"[Morrison] is an amazing talent. But his attitude makes you think about where he will be in six years' time," Redknapp said, per his book A Man Walks On to a Pitch. "By then Morrison will be 27 and we may still be wondering if someone's going to get a grip on him."

Powell needs to improve his professionalism after the Leicester City ostracism.

Van Gaal should force Powell to repetitively write out the expression: "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard" on a chalkboard Bart Simpson-style.

If Powell does not clean up his act, then in six years' time his biggest achievement in football would still be signing for Manchester United from Crewe Alexandra in a deal worth up to £6 million.

+allanjiang

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