Nick Powell has revealed he nearly quit football in January amid his struggles for regular first-team football with Bradford City.
The former Manchester United prospect arrived at Valley Parade last summer, but long-term injury issues and recovery limited him to just 14 appearances across all competitions, the majority of which came in the final stages of the Bantams’ promotion push.
Powell Speaks Earnestly On Decision
It was a make-or-break pre-season for Powell in West Yorkshire, having to fight for a new contract with the club after his initial one-year deal expired in the wake of City’s playoff defeat against Bolton Wanderers.
However, he snatched his opportunity, with a fine showing earning him new terms from Graham Alexander, and has already started to deliver with four goals in 11 appearances, including a brace against Newcastle United‘s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds following the result over the Magpies, Powell opened up about how close he was to hanging up his boots at the start of the year.
“I was going to retire in January, it was a dark time for me. I couldn’t see a future here and it was one of them where did I really want to carry on?
“The fact that I knuckled down and got back in last season and then did a whole pre-season and earned a new contract and sort of had praise from everyone… I fully enjoy it.
“One of the big things I said to the gaffer yesterday was I want to play as many games as I can before I retire.
“So if I have to play 50 games as a sub this season then I’ll be more than happy. I do believe I can change the game in 30 minutes. I have no qualms about what is going on at the moment.
“There will be a time where I get frustrated and want to push for a start but if the gaffer says ‘no, this is working’ or ‘this is what I’m thinking’ then that is his role.”
Major Role Ahead For Powell
In what was not a pretty display at all by the reserve team Graham Alexander called upon in the EFL Trophy, it took the efforts of Nick Powell, Bobby Pointon and Matthew Pennington from the bench to rescue Bradford City from embarrassment.
With Will Swan and Stephen Humphrys both struggling to make themselves effective, the 32-year-old was brought on for yet another supersub performance, scoring the brace which guaranteed City an opening win and one big step towards reaching the knockouts.
It was a performance which only helped boost Powell’s growing status as a cult hero for the Bantams, and could be the crucial factor in deciding who Alexander picks as his new number two striker behind Jake Beesley.
While it could all come crashing down depending on what happens with the Scottish manager’s future amid interest from Preston North End, for now, the former Stoke City man is flourishing with his second chance at Valley Parade, and will surely be a dependable option throughout the season.
