Fabio goes Beck to the future: Danny primed for competitive England start

Danny Welbeck has forced his way into contention for a first competitive start for England against Bulgaria next week.

Andy Carroll has become Fabio Capello’s preferred choice to partner Wayne Rooney in the England attack, with Darren Bent also an option.

But Welbeck impressed the England manager in training in the absence of Carroll and Bent earlier this month and his form alongside Rooney at Manchester United — not least against  Tottenham on Monday night — has strengthened his case.

Danny boy: Welbeck primed for England spot

Choose England@ Welbeck opted to pledge his allegiance to the Three Lions and not Ghana 

Capello can see the obvious advantage in keeping Rooney and Welbeck together, particularly when Ashley Young could also perform the wide role he is now making his own at Old Trafford.

Welbeck was capped for the first time by Capello in the friendly against Ghana in March, coming on in the 81st minute. His selection was controversial in Ghana, whose FA wanted the striker to represent them because his parents are Ghanaian.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has long considered  Welbeck a player with international potential and now he is seen by Capello as a serious  challenger to Carroll and Bent.

The 20-year old from the tough south Manchester area of  Longsight says he is already  living the dream after starting in the FA Community Shield and keeping his place.

‘There is no better feeling for a Manc kid than scoring for United,’ said Welbeck, who had to cope with the debilitating Osgood-Schlatter disease in his mid-teens.

‘I want more of it. Tom Cleverley and I were both at the academy for more than 10 years, so to come through and start in the first team is a massive achievement. We are so grateful to all the coaches we have had throughout the youth system. We will never forget them.’

United defender Chris Smalling described United’s potential as ‘endless’, while Patrice Evra, the skipper and senior figure at 30 against Tottenham, is just  as impressed.

‘A lot of people talk about the academy here, and the young players showed what they can do,’ said Evra. ‘They have such composure, it is amazing. They want to prove to the manager they are ready to play in the  first team.

First choice: Capello's preferred strike partnership is Rooney and Carroll

‘We have lost a lot of experience in Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, but you can see how the team is fresh and full of energy.

‘The football we are playing is quick. It is up to the likes of myself, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to make sure these boys keep developing.’

Smalling said: ‘There is an excitement in terms of the  endless potential here. We have nowhere near reached it and are just looking forward to how far we can go.
‘If the manager keeps on giving us chances, hopefully the lads will keep on taking them.

‘Wayne Rooney is young in terms of his age but is actually one of the more experienced players, and the young players try to learn from them and take that experience on board.’