Gradi has overseen the development of several international players

Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi believes teenage striker Nick Powell still needs time to improve before pushing for regular first-team starts.

Powell, 16, has come off the bench 14 times this season, with his only start coming in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

"At the moment he gets the ball and runs with it until he loses it," Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke. "If he wants more time on the pitch he's got to listen.

"He's having a real good go but he's doing the wrong things."

Powell is the latest highly-rated youngster to emerge from Crewe's academy.

He has represented England Under-17s and also been linked by the press with a move to Premier League giants Arsenal.

Gradi faces a striker crisis on Saturday, with both Clayton Donaldson and Shaun Miller unavailable for the trip to Rotherham.

Donaldson serves the second game of a three-match suspension, while Miller hurt a thigh muscle in the 6-2 defeat at Northampton on Tuesday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version