Danny Welbeck may only be 21 years old, but the wealth of experience he has already gained with Manchester United makes him a nailed-on certainty for Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 England squad.
With just four England senior caps to his name, you may not agree with the assumption that he’s a dead cert for the plane to Poland and Ukraine in a few weeks time, but his performances for Manchester United this season have catapulted him up the England strikers’ pecking order, and barring injury, he could even be a starter for the Three Lions this summer.
Last season’s loan adventure to Sunderland has seen Welbeck mature at an alarming rate, so much so that he has been Wayne Rooney’s regular strike partner at United since his return to Old Trafford.
Twelve goals in all competitions this season may not exactly be world-beating form, but Welbeck is beginning to show people exactly what he can do, and a first England senior cap against Ghana last year seems to have given him the confidence to play at the very highest level of the game.
A local Manchester lad and lifelong United fan, Welbeck was spotted aged just six by United scouts, and his progression since then has been remarkable. So many young strikers at United come through the academy with massive reputations that they don’t quite live up to, but Welbeck has worked hard for his opportunities, and seems to be reaping the rewards with United.
The centre forward is far from the finished article, but he’s already playing the type of football that could one day see him immortalised in Manchester United history books. Of course, that may be putting too much pressure on his young shoulders, but Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t play you ahead of the likes of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov if you’re not a top class player.
With United team mate Wayne Rooney out of the first two games in the Euros this summer, Welbeck is being touted by many to start the opening England game against the French on July 11th, and after his form this season, England are in safe hands it would seem, with his pace and deadly finishing.
Danny Welbeck, England expects.
By Sean Monaghan @Sean_Monaghan_
