Danny Welbeck has put to rest talk of his late-career form after the Brighton ace scored the goal that beat Manchester United in the FA Cup, prompting a recall from the England squad.
Danny Welbeck is England’s top scorer this season (Image: )
Danny Welbeck has insisted he cannot reveal the secret of his late-career form or “the drug inspectors will come” after his goal knocked former team Manchester United out of the FA Cup.
The striker, who came through the ranks at Old Trafford but was sold more than a decade ago, has now scored five goals for the Seagulls against his old club. His latest attack was a left-footed strike into the top corner of the goal as his side secured a 2-1 win against Manchester.
Despite being 35, Welbeck continues to perform and contribute, leading to talk of a call-up to the England squad with the World Cup just months away. The forward insisted his form was due to preparation, discipline and dedication, but joked that some might consider other factors.
“I can’t give away my secrets. If I say too much, the drug testers will come and get me! I’m healthy, clean, have good genes, and a good family. My mom and dad gave me good genes. I’ve put in a lot of effort. I work hard every day and take care of myself. I eat well and prepare well for every training session. I feel good and I feel strong.”
Welbeck refuses to get carried away ahead of a major tournament in America. Manager Thomas Tuchel has shown a willingness to ignore big names in favor of in-form players.
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“You know, I’m focused on the here and now. I’m enjoying my time. In football, you know things can change with the click of a finger, and anything can happen. So I’m just really enjoying the moment and taking care of myself and controlling what I can control. I feel good.”
Welbeck’s achievements at Brighton, who are six points adrift of the top four in the Premier League’s crowded table, will be key to a possible recall with the Three Lions. The striker praised his side for continuing their impressive record at Old Trafford. They have won their last four visits.
Brighton’s ace hits home goal to knock Man United out of the FA Cup (Image: )
“It’s huge,” he said. “Coming here in the FA Cup is always a big opportunity, whether it’s the FA Cup or the Premier League, and it’s great to get to the next round. We’ve got some players who haven’t played regularly so it was huge for them to put in the performance that they did. It shows the depth of the team, everyone working towards one goal and everyone buzzing in the dressing room.”
Welbeck scored 11 goals last season, marking the first time he has scored in double figures since 2018. He has already found the net eight times this season and is on track to surpass that number again. Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only English player to have scored more goals than the Brighton player this term.
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