Town are too well-connected in market for Powell’s liking

The former Charlton Athletic manager has been staggered by the number of strikers linked with Town as he looks to strengthen his attacking options.

After the departures of strikers Grant Holt, Jon Stead and Danny Ward – and with James Vaughan now sidelined with a fractured cheekbone – Powell is desperate to bring in a couple of forwards.

Every day seems to see new names tipped to make a move to the John Smith’s Stadium, the latest being Cardiff City duo Adam Le Fondre and Nicky Maynard.

Powell has been left frustrated by the transfer rumours, as he prepares his side for tomorrow’s trip to Championship strugglers Wigan Athletic.

“It’s hard to take when people keep throwing names at me, and it’s not someone we have even had contact with,” said Powell.

“I don’t like that because it puts us in a vulnerable and precarious position. People will feel we are not getting them over the line, when we haven’t even tried to.

“I find it absolutely crazy, at this club. We are continuously linked all over the place. That shouldn’t happen. I like to get my work done diligently, and quietly.

“It’s ongoing, a process we know will never be easy. Everyone is linked with players.

“I have never known a place like it, we are constantly linked with players. It just makes us look like we are in for everyone.

“It’s not a case of that. I think people are just bringing up names and linking them to us because we want to strengthen that area,” added Powell, who this week signed Birmingham City defender David Edgar on loan.

“We will go for the targets, and hope to get one or two over the line. We have got one (David Edgar) over the line, maybe not the one everyone thought we would do, but he is a good player, a good addition, and we will make more of those in the days to come.”

In an ideal world, Town want two strikers, but Powell is just hoping to shake up his attacking options and put his own stamp on the squad.

“I would like to get one first, then we can go from there,” he said.

“If I say plural and we only get one, people will think I have let the club down, and it’s not a case of that.

“I understand social media and newspapers because I have said we do need to boost that area; we had Grant Holt, Jon Stead, Martin Patterson and Danny Ward. But I felt we needed to move in that area and move one or two lads on, who weren’t going to play.

“Maybe bring in players who I feel are my players. It’s a squad which I haven’t really changed, apart from three loan players – Grant Holt, Diego Poyet and now David Edgar.

“Changes needed to be made and the changes were up to me,” stressed Powell.

The length of Vaughan’s lay-off is unknown, but he is due to see a specialist so a recovery programme can then be drawn up.

“He is seeing a specialist this week and we are hoping the news will be positive,” added Powell.

“It would be unfair for me to say he is going to be back on a particular date.

“It’s a case of what the specialist says – who is the top one in the area, with regards facial injuries – but I am hopeful the news will be good.”

Vaughan and Jonathan Hogg (thigh) are missing for tomorrow’s trip to Lancashire, but Harry Bunn and Murray Wallace 
return to the squad.

Huddersfield will be looking to end their search for a first away win in the Championship since October 1 – a 3-1 win at Wolverhampton – at the DW Stadium 
tomorrow.

Powell has seen some positive away displays at Norwich City, Rotherham United and Middlesbrough, but Town – who have lost eight out of 13 Championship games on the road – collected a solitary point out of nine, with the draw at Rotherham.

Tomorrow they face a Wigan side who are deep in relegation trouble, picking up just two home wins all season, and are managed by Malky Mackay, a former room-mate of Powell’s from their playing days at West Ham United.

He said: “We’ve been close in a lot of away games – even Norwich up until the sending-off. We should’ve beaten Rotherham, we know that (Town were 2-0 up).

“The performance at Middlesbrough last week was almost where we want to be in away games – games where we give ourselves a fighting chance.”

One player who could be heading for a Town exit today is defender Lee Peltier, who is wanted by Cardiff City.

“I would think in the next 24 hours we will make some headway on that,” said Powell, who is also willing to let Anthony Gerrard go out on loan.

“Lee is someone that they are quite keen on. I think it’s a case of everyone agreeing the deal, personal terms.

“Anthony is a senior player, he wants to play and I can’t always guarantee that.”