Saturday 15th November 2008. Approximately 20 past 4 in the afternoon. Old Trafford rises and welcomes on to the field Darron Gibson and the then 17 year old striker Danny Welbeck. Little did they know that just 20 minutes later they would be cheering and applauding a fantastic 30-yard strike from the debutant, a star was born. A small star which has still yet to fully shine over the footballing world, but a star none of the less.
Two years went by with only a handful of league and cup appearances to his name Welbeck found himself going out on loan to Preston North End for the end of the 2009-10 season, where he made 8 appearances scoring 2 goals. The following season saw Danny Welbeck bulk up a bit, having put in extra hours in the gym during pre-season. This led to Sir Alex Ferguson sending the then 19 year old up to Sunderland to gain first team football under the scrutiny of Ferguson’s former captain Steve Bruce
During the 2010-11 season on Wear-side, Welbeck managed 6 goals in 26 league outings for the Black Cats. He also showed that he could compete in the Premier League week-in, week-out.
With an air of optimism circulating Old Trafford ahead of the 2011-12 season and with the injection of youthful exuberance entrusted on Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and others; Manchester United were looking towards the future.
In all honesty, before the season started the Manchester United management would have seen Welbeck as a backup striker for the first team. After Javier Hernandez’s great debut season for the Red Devils he looked certain to be the first choice partner to Wayne Rooney in the front line for the season ahead.
However, following the vigorous summer break Hernandez spent playing for Mexico and minor knocks picked up early on in pre season, fatigue hit him hard towards the end of pre season and the start of the actual season. In fact, this ended up limiting Hernandez in his second season. This allowed Welbeck to start the first three League matches following the Community Shield win, scoring in the first two home games of the season, scoring the opening goal vs Tottenham and scoring the second in the infamous 8-2 demolition of Arsenal the following weekend.
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The great start to the season was cut short later on in the game against Arsenal when going clear through on goal Welbeck’s left hamstring gave way costing him the chance of scoring a goal, along with the next five weeks
Welbeck went on to score 12 goals in 40 appearances in all for Manchester United and secured a place on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2011/12 season, eventually losing out to Tottenham full back Kyle Walker. Even though he didn’t win the award the recognition itself has shown just how far Welbeck has come in the last 2 years. The great season for Welbeck got even better when he was named in the England National Team for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
Whilst apart of the squad he scored in the second warm up match at Wembley vs Belgium in June 2012. He then went on to score the winner in the second group game against Sweden and was a fundamental part of the way England played.
Following the great season Danny Welbeck has had for both Man Utd and England he is now on the brink of becoming a Man Utd regular, potentially even becoming the new number 9 if the reported departure of Dimitar Berbatov goes ahead. He has found himself at 20/1 with bookmakers at being the top goalscorer for the 2012/13 Premier League season. He has also caught the attention of former Man Utd and England striker Andy Cole who recently said:
…This is going to be a big season for Danny Welbeck. He has to try and cement his spot as a first-choice Manchester United striker. He’s more than good enough to do that, but he has to keep doing it. You have to do it season in, season out before people are convinced by you.”
With the fully fit Javier Hernandez back at the top of his game it will be hard but the 21 year old has enough about him to be Manchester United’s main man this season and a Manchester United great in the years to come.
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