OPINION
West Ham surely cannot lose by following through with their reported possible plan regarding the immediate future of Joe Powell.
Claret & Hugh report that the 21-year-old attacking midfielder looks likely to be loaned out in January with the club set to be looking for a Championship club to acquire his services on a temporary basis.
The reliable Hammers outlet suggest that Powell could gain enough experience with a Championship club to see him pushed into serious contention for a place in the first-team squad at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Powell has only featured once for the Hammers’ senior side previously but did impress in that outing.
The creative midfielder played in last season’s 8-0 win over Macclesfield Town and registered two assists in the process, though it’s worth noting the Hammers were playing a struggling League Two side.
Powell also got some vital experience on loan with League Two’s Northampton Town in the second half of the 2018/19 campaign as he played 10 times for them, racking up two goals as well as one assist for the Cobblers.
Yet wowing in League Two, doesn’t mean you’re ready to play for a Premier League side as that’s a huge step up for any player to make.
Claret & Hugh point out that Powell has been banging on the door to feature for Manuel Pellegrini’s side due to impressive form for the U-23s this season, he’s scored seven goals and registered six assists in 12 Premier League 2 outings (Source: Premier League), but the Hammers boss would no doubt rather see his talents proven at a higher level before throwing him into the deep-end which is the top-flight.
With that in mind surely the Hammers cannot lose by opting to loan Powell out to a Championship club.
If the 21-year-old manages to wow while in England’s second-tier, the Hammers will know he’s ready for first-team action in the 2020/21 campaign and if he struggles, then they know he’ll likely need either to be sold or loaned out for an entire campaign to prove himself.
The attacking midfielder will also see his potential value soar depending on how he does, and if he excels but isn’t good enough for the Hammers team just yet, other clubs will likely be eager to take him on loan in the summer for next season.
So with that in mind, the Hammers clearly can’t lose by loaning out Powell as at 21-years-old, he’s probably picked up all he can from playing U-23s football, after all, he has played 58 times for West Ham’s U-23s.
