Whilst the 5-0 win away at Bayer Leverkusen has probably been Manchester United’s most memorable team performance of the season, few single moments will have warmed the hearts of Reds more than Danny Welbeck’s sublime second goal against Swansea in August.
Fed through by a delicate Wayne Rooney pass, United’s No.19 was forced wide, but mustered the composure and technique to execute a perfect chip over the goalkeeper, a seemingly impossible finish from a remarkably tight angle.
Welbeck is a genuine fans favourite at Old Trafford. One of few local lads to make it all the way through the club’s youth system, he plays the game with a huge smile, massive guts and with an increasingly impressive technical nous. And, if his goals against Aston Villa at the weekend are anything to go by, he may finally be adding the clinical finishing he is so often accused of lacking to his already considerable repertoire of skills.
Welbeck’s road to the first team has been a long one. First spotted by United aged six, he had to wait until 2008 to make his first appearance for the first team. He was then twice shipped off on loan, first to Preston North End, where his progress was hampered by a knee injury, and then to Sunderland. It was at the Stadium of Light where he first truly found his feet, appearing in 26 Premier League games, scoring six goals and ultimately departing having completely won over the Sunderland crowd.
Danny returned to Old Trafford for the 2011-12 season, where he went on to become a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s attack. He developed a strong understanding with Wayne Rooney, scoring 12 goals and making the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the process. Demonstrating considerable pace, work-rate, strength and tactical acumen, he quickly won both the trust of the management and the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful.
He also quickly became an important player for England, with his partnership with Rooney forming England’s most reliable attacking threat at Euro 2012. His fantastic backhealed finish against Sweden in the group stage was a rare highlight in a difficult tournament for the national team.
Yet the following season his progress was stunted by the arrival of Robin van Persie, whose electrifying form resulted in Welbeck being given far fewer opportunities to impress. When he did make it into the team, he was often played out of position on the left wing, and infamously finished the season having only scored one league goal. Yet Danny persisted, clearly working hard to impress whenever picked, and was rewarded for a fine performance against Real Madrid with a goal at the Santiago Bernabéu in February. His header proved one of the year’s most exhilarating moments, and happily proved that the forward was capable of delivering on the biggest of all stages.
Now Welbeck must kick on. He has scored five goals so far this year, with David Moyes believing his troubling finishing skills may finally be improving as a result of a more committed attitude to training: “We had a word with him about a month ago and we said that he needs to be the last off the training field,” the manager revealed, before highlighting the attitude of Wayne Rooney as an ideal example for Welbeck to follow on the training pitch.
Van Persie’s recent injury gives Danny a fine opportunity to stake his claim for a regular starting berth in United’s first team. Honourable and courageous, he is Manchester United through and through and has the heart and talent to make a real difference at his boyhood club. Helpfully, his standing amongst the Old Trafford faithful will mean he will never be short of support as he strives to fulfil his vast and exciting potential.
Piers is a Manchester United fan who writes regularly for Dream Team Fantasy Football. Follow him on Twitter @piersbarber18.
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