Crewe Alexandra midfielder Nick Powell has been rewarded for his contributions by claiming the Football League's young player of the month award for December.
The highly-coveted 17-year-old is very much in the first-team picture at Crewe, and has started 20 times this term, scoring five league goals for the Railwaymen.
Powell is just the latest talent to come from Crewe's famous youth system, and accepted his award from club Director of Football Dario Gradi, who has overseen the rise of players such as Robbie Savage, Seth Johnson and Dean Ashton at the Cheshire club.
Powell said upon collecting his award: "To be honest I thought I'd be on the fringes of the side like i was last season, so to be starting games is brilliant for me and now to win this award, I can't ask for much more than that. It's a great achievement for me."
Crewe have earned a reputation as a selling club over the years, and their top talents have too often been poached by footballing superiors. Indeed Powell himself has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea.
But there is plenty of time to learn for Powell, who hails from the 1994 age group. Himself and team mate Max Clayton figured for England in last years FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico, and undoubtedly have glittering careers ahead of them.
