The Manchester United striker is looking to follow the example set by Michael Owen and does not believe his lack of experience will count against him
Danny Welbeck does not give the impression he is buckling under the considerable weight of newfound responsibility. Six caps and a goal into his international career and the striker finds himself thrust into the role of line-leader and principal poacher, the attacking focal point of an England team growing used to feeding on scraps of possession.
The onus will be upon him to infiltrate Sweden on Friday and invigorate the national team's challenge at Euro 2012, all of which suggests a player with fewer than 50 Premier League starts to his name might just be prone to the odd pang of anxiety. His laid-back shrug suggests otherwise. "It's excitement more than anything else," he says. "I've been put in a position now to lead the line for England and it's not something I'm scared of: I'm relishing the opportunity. I'm not going to see it as something that's a massive challenge for me, or something that's too big. I've been looking to do this ever since I signed on as a schoolboy."
The impression Welbeck gives is that this is his destiny rather than any reason to be daunted. The 21-year-old represents the future but he has become key to the present. There is a persuasive argument that Roy Hodgson should start with the aerial threat of Andy Carroll in Kiev on Friday given that six out of the last seven goals conceded by Sweden, including Andriy Shevchenko's double in their opening defeat, have come from headers. The Scandinavians' appearance as a side of man-mountains is clearly illusory.
Yet Welbeck offers slippery pace and clever movement that should unsettle defenders with considerable turning circles. If England use the ball more productively – and that has to be the prerequisite from now on – he should tap into familiarity from Manchester United to combine slickly with Ashley Young on Friday and, looking even further ahead, Wayne Rooney against Ukraine in Donetsk next week. He has the strut and self-belief to thrive, justifying Sir Alex Ferguson's prediction back in 2009 that he was "a certainty to make it at the highest level". Even after only 17 goals in 63 first-team appearances for United, it feels as if he belongs. "I don't want to keep shifting in and out [of the team]," he says, "but that's down to the manager."
The last forward of a similar age to claim this role as his own was Michael Owen back in September 2000, the then Liverpool striker having spoken in the aftermath of a 1-1 draw at the Stade de France after pilfering a late equaliser against the reigning World and European champions. Alan Shearer had only recently retired, and Owen sensed his moment had come. It is a reminder of Welbeck's youth that when asked which England strikers he grew up watching, he cites Owen and Rooney – both team-mates at Old Trafford last season – as inspirations.
"My best England memory was probably Michael scoring that goal against Argentina [in St Etienne in 1998], when I was seven," he says. "I was sitting in the living room with my family, saw him take that touch with the outside of his foot and just go. He shifted it past a couple of Argentina defenders and stuck it in the top corner. Wow. Obviously I've had a chance to play and train with him and Wayne since, and to take on board any tips they can offer to help me develop my game as far as I can.
"As for being compared to them, you try not to think about it too much. You go into a game focused, and you don't want your mind on anything other than football. Play the game, not the occasion. I know what I want to do, and what I can do. Against the French I held the ball up pretty well and brought others into play, but going forward I want to get some shots off at goal. At United, you're expected to produce that moment of quality and when you have an opportunity, stick it away. That's what I have to do here, too."
The approach that left Welbeck so isolated against France at the Donbass Arena may now be tweaked against the Swedes to ensure the opposition is not permitted to monopolise the ball. A draw against Les Bleus represented a solid, if unspectacular, start but momentum will only be injected into this England campaign by victory in Kiev.
A year ago, Welbeck was the only scorer in Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad in a campaign that began with a promising draw against Spain, rather stagnated against Ukraine, and concluded prematurely at the group stage with late defeat and elimination by the Czech Republic.
Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones also endured those disappointments in Denmark. "That experience just shows we have to go out and beat Sweden in the second game," adds Welbeck. "You'll see a much more determined England side. We want to get bodies into our attacking third and create more opportunities. But pressure? This is something I love doing, and I don't see any need to worry about anything really.
"Football's football. You're going to come across the good and the bad, but you've got to take it all in your stride." Read More
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
