Cod Almighty | Article

by Paul Ketchley

12 November 2003

Alan Pouton famously came to Town from York City at the start of the 1999-00 season with a ringing endorsement from then manager Alan Buckley. At the time maybe most of us wondered what he saw in the 21-year-old from the lower divisions, but Pouts soon showed the energy and dynamism in central midfield that we all know and love.

Those extravagant stepovers and sheer drive in midfield became trade marks and if only he'd added a bit more control on the edge of the penalty box, he'd have become a very valuable player for us.

Recent seasons have seen his game affected by injury – the first time when he was clattered into the advertising hoardings in a home game against Wolves before Christmas 2001, which kept him out for a long spell, and then again at the end of the 2002-03 season.

There were, and perhaps still are, fears that this will bring an early end to Pouton's playing career. Certainly he's been out of the side since the 2003 pre-season matches, and there's no doubt that we've missed Al and his partnership with Stacy in the middle of the park. Funnily enough, they complement each other to a tee rather than duplicating styles - as their replacements have tended to do.

So the big question is: when will we see Al again, when will we share precious moments? It was supposed to be November '03, but all the injury updates are silent on our hero's true condition, and he's not even had a trundle out in the reserves. We sure need him though – adding real power into the middle of the park, which brings out the best in those around him. Stu Campbell always looks so much more energetic and creative when he's alongside Pouton, and if he could strike up a partnership with Marcel Cas then the midfield would look an altogether more threatening unit.

The sooner he's back the better.