By Jon Murray FIFTEEN months after nearly prising Paul Powell away from the Manor Ground, Denis Smith now says the last thing he wants is for the left back to leave Oxford United.

It was in November 1998, when the club were having to sell players to survive, that Smith tried to sign Powell for West Brom, but the Wallingford-born 19-year-old, as he was then, didn't want to go.

Now 21, and probably United's most valuable asset, Powell gave another dynamic display in the U's 2-1 win over Chesterfield on Saturday, which left Smith raving about his performance.

"Paul was outstanding," he said. "I've been telling Premiership managers about him. And people say we don't have many top left-sided players in this country.

"I tried to sign him when I was at West Brom and I've always liked him. I think he's a good player and he's got better."

However, remembering what life was like during his previous stint as United's manager, Smith said: "I don't want the good players at this club to leave. That's what I did here the last time. I spent so much time trying to sell players to keep the club going and I don't think we're in that situation now." Asked what would happen if, for example, Manchester United came in with a £500,000 offer for Powell, Smith replied: "It wouldn't interest me. Obviously I'd have to put it to the chairman and see what he says.

"I've got to build up trust with the players and so I would tell any of them if a big club came in."

Powell himself said: "I'm ambitious to play at the top level, but that's for the future really, I've shown that by signing a pretty long deal - four years. At Oxford this is a good stepping stone for me, hopefully."

Powell helped United to end a run of four successive home defeats with Saturday's victory.

He said: "The lads were a bit nervous before the game but we got the ball down in the first half and played it around. I don't know what it was, but in the second half we reverted to kicking it long.

"But you settle for playing badly if you pick up three points."

Story date: Tuesday 22 February

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