United striker wants out

Danny Welbeck has hinted he might seek a move out of United despite the arrival of Louis Van Gaal after expressing his frustration at the number of time he’s been played out wide for the club over the last 12 months.

Welbeck endured a difficult season, with rumours linking him with a move away with the club after growing disillusioned with David Moyes’ training methods hitting the headlines, while a couple of injuries meant his campaign struggled to get any momentum at all, but Van Gaal’s appointment was thought to be a good enough reason for the England striker to remain at the club.

However, while reflecting on his “unhappiest season, without a doubt” the Longsight-born striker has refused to commit his future to the club and admitted being concerned at his chances of being deployed in his preferred role.

“I’d like to play centrally,” said Welbeck in an interview with the Guardian. “I’ve been playing on the left for a while and it’s got to the time when I want to stake a place up front.”

That, however, seems a rather difficult task for the England striker, particularly as Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney are likely to be considered United’s main strike partnership by Van Gaal and when asked if he wanted to leave the club, Welbeck replied: “I’d rather not answer that question.” and admitted having become frustrated by the lack of opportunities up-front.

“It does get frustrating. You want to play in a certain position and you’re not getting the opportunity to do that. It’s the same for everyone else when they are being played out of position and they don’t really like it.

“I played there for United over the Christmas period and scored a few then. I just want opportunities.”

Welbeck also insisted he was surprised by some comments made by Moyes, when the former United manager suggested the striker should spend more time in training practising on his finishing.

“I was pretty surprised, to be honest. I’ve grown up at Manchester United and been professional all through my career and I always do extra work. It’s born and bred in me to do extra work after training. He came out with that statement but, before then, I had been doing extra training. Maybe he just didn’t see it.”

“I wouldn’t say I play better for England but my goals-per-game ratio is definitely better,” continued the United striker. “Formation-wise, I’m much freer up front because, when I play on the left for England, with three in midfield and three up front, there is more defensive cover rather than me being that defensive cover. For United I’m more likely to be left-wing in a four-man midfield, with only two central midfielders, so it’s a bit more difficult for me to make runs and score goals when I’ve got to think about my defensive duties. Maybe I’m let off the leash a bit more for England than United.”