Periodically, Pete Sixsmith offers the Manchester United fans’ site Stretford End Arising an update on how Danny Welbeck is doing for Sunderland. Perhaps he should aid our chances of getting Danny permanently by always replying that he’s absolute garbage. Here, though, is his latest mid-term report …
So, after a long lay off in Manchester, we got Danny back into action. He came on as a second half sub at Ashburton Grove and almost scored a cracking goal. Had it gone in, Arsene’s face would have been a picture; not only beaten by one of the “little teams”, but through a goal by a Manchester United player. I think he would have ended up like any Spinal Tap drummer and spontaneously combusted.
A couple of weeks later (our March fixture list was almost non-existent), he started against Liverpool as a wide midfield player, pushing on.
Steve Bruce was probably too cautious and with hindsight, may well have played him as the second striker with Asamoah Gyan. It was no surprise when he went off after an hour, looking dead on his feet.
It was a real bonus when he recieved his England call up and he almost scored, just failing to get on the end of a teasing cross from Matt Jarvis. He must have stood and wondered at the superb goal that his team mate Asamoah scored at the end.
He will play an important role as the season comes to an end. Bruce wants to keep him, either as a loanee or as a permanent member of the staff. Danny has some heavy thinking to do. Would he have got into the England squad on the basis of a handful appearances in the Old Trafford First XI? Will he play regularly next season if he returns? Does he want to become a hero in the North East and form a partnership with Gyan? Will the Ghanaians tap him up for their national side?
As Johnny Nash said, there are more questions than answers …
Welbeck needs to think long and hard about a return to Manure. With us he is a future god (patent pending) but he will get a real chance to stamp his mark on the history of football in the club.
With Manu he will need luck to make a lasting impression amongst so much talent. He could be highly paid yes but how much can he spend and did he actually take up this sport to play football or to sit counting the changes to his bank balance sitting on a subs bench?
I think (and hope) he’ll stay.
He wouldn’t get off the bench at ManU because Hernandez and the like are playing so well.
There’s no way Capello would have noticed him to award him a cap had he not been playing regular at S’land.