Wigan Athletic 4-1 Bury: Nick Powell scores brace as Paul Cook's side maintain 100 per cent winning start
- Former Manchester United striker Nick Powell scored twice in Wigan's victory
- Michael Jacobs also got himself on the scoresheet as did Lee Evans
- Paul Cook's side maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the season
Wigan forward Nick Powell is finally realising the potential that once prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him as a teenager.
Chronic injuries meant Powell scored only once in four years at Manchester United but Saturday's double took his run to eight goals in eight games since returning from hamstring problems last season.
'I don't think anyone has ever doubted Nick Powell's quality. When he's fit, he's a massive influence,' said Latics manager Paul Cook, whose side are among six League One clubs with maximum points this season.
Nick Powell celebrates scoring Wigan Athletic's third goal against Bury on Sunday
'The important thing for Nick is keeping fit. He is working away every day in the gym and if he does that he should be OK. I think he only started 11 games last season and that's not enough.'
Powell, 25, set up Michael Jacobs for Wigan's opener after 13 minutes. But Bury levelled two minutes later when debutant Alex Bruce went up for a corner and scored with a header that dad Steve would have been proud of.
Bruce Jr, released by Hull City in the summer, was signed by manager Lee Clark on Friday on a non-contract basis and he said: 'I thought Alex was excellent. I want to sit down and make it a longer-term deal.'
Powell took over in the second half showing the quality that persuaded Ferguson to sign him for £6million from Crewe in 2012.
After 53 minutes, he climbed effortlessly and beat goalkeeper Joe Murphy with a clinical header following a curled cross by Lee Evans.
And 11 minutes later when Adam Thompson had wrestled Ivan Toney to the floor, Powell took responsibility for the penalty and drove his shot down the middle while Murphy dived to the right.
Wigan then sealed a comprehensive win when Evans crashed home a 25-yard drive at the end, with Clark admitted: 'The better team won.'
Following relegation from The Championship last season, Wigan pulled off a coup by persuading manager Cook to join them after he'd led Portsmouth to promotion from League Two.
He's now in the position of trying to dampen expectations following a strong start to the season.
'I know people get excited but I've been around football long enough to know that you can always have a crash. What pleased me most was that our players stood up at key moments.'
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