Dario Gradi says that Nick Powell is tough to manage
Last updated on .From the section Football
Crewe manager Dario Gradi has said that it is proving a tough challenge to manage young midfielder Nick Powell.
Powell, 17, is available for this weekend's game against Barnet after serving a three-match ban following his sending-off at Shrewsbury.
Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke: "He's different, and to know what's going on in his mind is beyond me.
"When he does ridiculous chips and flicks I tell him, 'don't think you're going to score like that."
Powell, who can also play at centre forward, represented England at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico during the summer and is already being linked with a move to Premier League.
"He has now accepted what I've said to him that his future will depend on him scoring goals," said Gradi. "I think he understands that now.
"Instead of ridiculous and outrageous shots, he's actually trying to put the ball in the back of the net which he has the ability to do, there's no doubt about that."
Powell was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Shrewsbury in August.
