Welbeck: I have become a man and look forward to scoring goals galore for United

By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail
Updated:

Danny Welbeck believes that he is now man enough to be a major force for Manchester United and England.

The 21-year-old striker has scored five times this season after leapfrogging Dimitar Berbatov in the pecking order at Old Trafford, including his first European goals in the 3-3 draw with Basel last week and United’s second in the win over Norwich on Saturday.

Red hot: Danny Welbeck has netted 5 times in all competitions this season

Red hot: Danny Welbeck has netted 5 times in all competitions this season

The local lad from Longsight has beefed up considerably since leaving for a loan spell at Sunderland last season, although concerns over his hamstrings surfaced again when he pulled up with another problem in the 8-2 romp against Arsenal in August.

Welbeck, who has been included in the England squad for Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro, claims that he has matured enough over the last 12 months to pose a real problem for defenders.

Speaking to Inside United magazine, he said: ‘I think it’s just that I’ve literally grown into a man now.

Rite of passage: Welbeck says he has become a man

Rite of passage: Welbeck says he has become a man

‘I’ve filled out naturally. I’ve been doing a bit of gym work but it’s more based around my legs, not so much my upper body. It’s all coming together. My physique is getting a lot better than before I went away.

‘Some of the centre-backs are 90 kilograms and I’m only 70-something kilograms, so I need to be strong. I don’t have to be massive but I need to be able to handle myself and I feel I’m doing that.

‘There’s no better feeling than scoring in front of the Stretford End. I aim to emulate that feeling so many more times.’

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