Welbeck is a promising striker who has risen steadily through United’s Academy and Reserves, can he live up to United's high standards?
The Manchester-born forward scored nine times in 14 starts for the Academy in 2007/08 and seven in 11 starts for the reserves in the same season, including a hat-trick against Manchester City. This form earned him the praise of Sir Alex Ferguson, who likened him to Nwankwo Kanu - skilful, strong and quick.
“He’s no doubt he's a Manchester United player, but he’s only young,” Ferguson said. “He needs time, but he’s got a lot of marvellous things about him”, said Ferguson in 2008.
Welbeck was named on the bench for the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in April 2008 and also travelled to Moscow for the final.
The frontman has represented his country at youth level, scoring in Korea at the U17 World Championships in summer 2007 and a year later for the U19s in the European Championships.
He can play on the wing as well as in attack and his Under-18 coach, Paul McGuiness, described him as “a very talented and skilful player with good all-round technique. He’s good defensively as well as going forward, and he’s a real leader.”
Welbeck scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-0 win against Stoke at Old Trafford in November 2008.