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Time to shine - Young Lion Welbeck must continue Manchester United form to stake his claim for an England spot
The 21-year-old striker has been in superb form this season and is likely to start for the Three Lions against Holland on Wednesday with both Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent out
28 Feb 2012 09:05:00
Getty Images
By Greg Stobart | Northern Correspondent
When Danny Welbeck was the star of the youth teams at Manchester United, at every age group, the coaches at the club were concerned that his physical size gave him an advantage that would never be reflected in first-team football.
They were worried that he might not make the grade as a Premier League player but now, at 21, he has already established himself as a key member of the United squad and is on course to fulfilling the “great future” predicted for him by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Such has been his ascent since returning from a loan spell at Sunderland last season, Welbeck is likely to get a chance to make his mark on the international stage when England face the Netherlands at Wembley on Wednesday.
He has just three England caps to his name, all this season under Fabio Capello, but is expected to be named in the starting line-up in an audition for a place on the plane to Euro 2012.
It has opened up for someone like Welbeck to grab an opportunity. Wayne Rooney, out of the Holland game with a sore throat, will be suspended for the first two matches at the European Championship while Darren Bent has been ruled out for three months with an ankle injury, dashing his prospects of making the tournament.
It leaves the England manager - currently Stuart Pearce in caretaker charge - with just three friendlies before Euro 2012 to find a formula to take on the likes of Spain, Germany and Holland in the summer.
Of all the candidates, Welbeck’s claim could be the most persuasive.
The Longsight-born forward has already overtaken Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov to become first-choice striker at Old Trafford - and England supporters would love to see his partnership with Rooney replicated in an England shirt.
All the materials are there to make a top international striker. The key to Welbeck’s game is his intelligence on and off the ball. Constantly looking to move into space, he pulls defenders out of position, stretching the play and opening up gaps for runners from deep.
On the ball, his greatest skill is his sharp one and two-touch passing around the edge of the penalty area, opening up defences with the speed of his actions and the sharpness of his touch.
At 6ft 2in he has the size to hold the ball up and win aerial challenges, despite his rather gangly frame, while his pace troubles defenders when he runs into the channels on the counterattack.
Those qualities have seen Welbeck score nine goals in all competitions so far this season, an impressive return for a player constantly improving and one who has been hampered by some niggling injuries.
His finishing does tend to be wayward and he does sometimes panic in the penalty area, resulting in mishit shots. But like all other aspects of his game, it’s improving.
Ferguson believes Welbeck “became a man” during his loan stint at Sunderland but the real making of him could be when he is thrown into an England team of which expectations are at an all-time low.
Of course, Welbeck would be best paired alongside Rooney, his club colleague, but he provides options for the England manager as a striker able to play both as a lone frontman or in a two-man attack.
His pace makes him a useful option on the break while his movement means he can inject energy into England’s play in the final third and cut through opponents in the tighter, slower matches.
Welbeck is still raw, but around players of the quality of Rooney and Ryan Giggs, he is starting to flourish, rewarding the hard work and commitment that has been identified by Ferguson as one of his main strengths.
There is absolutely no reason why that form cannot be reflected in an England shirt. Welbeck has the chance on Wednesday to almost guarantee his place in the squad for Euro 2012.
Follow Greg Stobart on
When Danny Welbeck was the star of the youth teams at Manchester United, at every age group, the coaches at the club were concerned that his physical size gave him an advantage that would never be reflected in first-team football.
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They were worried that he might not make the grade as a Premier League player but now, at 21, he has already established himself as a key member of the United squad and is on course to fulfilling the “great future” predicted for him by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Such has been his ascent since returning from a loan spell at Sunderland last season, Welbeck is likely to get a chance to make his mark on the international stage when England face the Netherlands at Wembley on Wednesday.
He has just three England caps to his name, all this season under Fabio Capello, but is expected to be named in the starting line-up in an audition for a place on the plane to Euro 2012.
It has opened up for someone like Welbeck to grab an opportunity. Wayne Rooney, out of the Holland game with a sore throat, will be suspended for the first two matches at the European Championship while Darren Bent has been ruled out for three months with an ankle injury, dashing his prospects of making the tournament.
It leaves the England manager - currently Stuart Pearce in caretaker charge - with just three friendlies before Euro 2012 to find a formula to take on the likes of Spain, Germany and Holland in the summer.
Of all the candidates, Welbeck’s claim could be the most persuasive.
The Longsight-born forward has already overtaken Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov to become first-choice striker at Old Trafford - and England supporters would love to see his partnership with Rooney replicated in an England shirt.
All the materials are there to make a top international striker. The key to Welbeck’s game is his intelligence on and off the ball. Constantly looking to move into space, he pulls defenders out of position, stretching the play and opening up gaps for runners from deep.
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DANNY WELBECK
STRIKER | MANCHESTER UNITED |
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On the ball, his greatest skill is his sharp one and two-touch passing around the edge of the penalty area, opening up defences with the speed of his actions and the sharpness of his touch.
At 6ft 2in he has the size to hold the ball up and win aerial challenges, despite his rather gangly frame, while his pace troubles defenders when he runs into the channels on the counterattack.
Those qualities have seen Welbeck score nine goals in all competitions so far this season, an impressive return for a player constantly improving and one who has been hampered by some niggling injuries.
His finishing does tend to be wayward and he does sometimes panic in the penalty area, resulting in mishit shots. But like all other aspects of his game, it’s improving.
Ferguson believes Welbeck “became a man” during his loan stint at Sunderland but the real making of him could be when he is thrown into an England team of which expectations are at an all-time low.
Of course, Welbeck would be best paired alongside Rooney, his club colleague, but he provides options for the England manager as a striker able to play both as a lone frontman or in a two-man attack.
His pace makes him a useful option on the break while his movement means he can inject energy into England’s play in the final third and cut through opponents in the tighter, slower matches.
Welbeck is still raw, but around players of the quality of Rooney and Ryan Giggs, he is starting to flourish, rewarding the hard work and commitment that has been identified by Ferguson as one of his main strengths.
There is absolutely no reason why that form cannot be reflected in an England shirt. Welbeck has the chance on Wednesday to almost guarantee his place in the squad for Euro 2012.
Follow Greg Stobart on
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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