Wellington Phoenix striker Blake Powell is reveling in his “fairytale” display against Wanderers but knows it will mean little if he goes missing for the rest of the Hyundai A-League season.
Powell struck a stunning four goals in the Phoenix’s 5-2 win at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday.
MATCH REPORT: Powell fires Phoenix to big win over Wanderers
Having also earned an extension to his contract the week earlier by making his 15th A-League appearance of the season, the 24-year-old forward has had a top fortnight.
After enjoying the spotlight for around 24 hours, Powell has been quick to refocus on Wellington’s next match.
“One game you play good, everyone likes you, and the next game you might not have the best game and no-one talks to you,” he told Goal Australia on Wednesday.
“There’s ups and downs but you take the good when it comes I guess.”
Powell’s four-goal haul against Western Sydney took his tally for 2015/16 to seven.
With Roy Krishna’s long-term ankle injury and now-departed Jeffrey Sarpong having never settled in Wellington, a lot of responsibility has fallen on Powell’s shoulders.
The former Sydney FC striker concedes he hasn’t always delivered but insists there have always been signs he was improving in A-League return.
“It’s been a bit up and down. I’m learning a lot from [coach] Ernie [Merrick] and [assistant coach] Chris Greenacre – I owe them a lot,” Powell said.
“I’ve seen improvement in my game but Ernie’s had faith in me, so he’s been giving me regular game-time, and I was just glad that I could finally repay him.
“So I’ve got to back it up next week now.”
Powell hailed the influence new Phoenix striker Hamish Watson had against the Wanderers.
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The powerfully-built 22-year-old joined Powell up front.
“Hamish came in on the weekend and he did very well,” Powell said.
“I was very impressed with his movement and his strength on the ball.
“It’s good to have a lad like that – you don’t have to always be so close to him and help him, he can get a free-kick up in our half and really take the pressure off us.”
Having been released by Sydney at the end of the 2013-14 season, Powell joined APIA Leichhardt in the NSW NPL, scoring 28 goals in 31 matches to catch Merrick’s eye.
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Powell paid tribute to one former team-mate and ex-A-League player for helping him return to professional football.
“I had a magician behind me [at APIA] – Franco Parisi – he was pulling the strings for me, so he was setting me up for every game and I was lucky enough to be putting them away,” Powell said.
“I knew if I kept scoring goals someone would notice me sooner or later.”
The Phoenix face Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
