by That’s according to talkSPORT and Saturday Social pundit Rory Jennings, who believes the 31-year-old former Arsenal striker is “class” and could do the job for the Three Lions.
Welbeck, who has failed to score for the Seagulls in seven Premier League appearances this season, has scored six goals in 27 games under Graham Potter during the 2021/22 season.
However, he has impressed while leading Brighton’s forward line of late and following his decent run of form, Jennings was full of praise for the Manchester United academy product.
“That’s a player,” he says, showing a photo of the Brighton forward while appearing on Saturday Social.
“Danny Welbeck is going to the World Cup. I genuinely believe so. His recent career bounce is testament to his brilliance [Graham] Potter. He plays so well. I think he deserves a place at the World Cup.”
Jennings added: “Considering it’s a bigger team, I think he could do a job. He’s classy.”
Nah I just saw Rory Jennings saying Danny Welbeck should go to the World Cup… he’s doing it on purpose ffs
— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) October 1, 2022
These comments certainly raised eyebrows at the studio. Sitting next to Jennings on the show, AFTV presenter Robbie Lyle played down a potential World Cup spot for the Brighton man.
“When Danny Welbeck was at Arsenal, I loved him,” he said. “He’s a very unlucky player with the number of injuries he’s had. Very unlucky. He played well at Brighton but he’s not clinical enough. Ivan Toney is much more clinical.”
Jenkins hit back, saying: “Welbeck is a lot better than Ollie Watkins. You know those other strikers who [Southgate] could receive. Maybe it’s Tammy Abraham, Ollie Watkins or Callum Wilson. Welbeck is the jewel in that crown.”
Here’s the full conversation from last weekend’s Saturday Show of Social Social.
I can’t believe this. I like Welbeck but he’s no better than Tammy or Toney who “Southgate doesn’t rate” 😂😂
He is well aware of how Potter played him, Southgate cannot repeat that.
He is also always injured and not much of a scorer these days. pic.twitter.com/dGscNHUmlk
— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) October 1, 2022
Welbeck, who has made 42 appearances for England since making his international bow in 2011, won praise from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright earlier this month after Brighton’s win against Leicester.
“There is a wonderful balance in the team with Danny Welbeck when he plays the nine role, where he links the play.
“Then you have [Leandro] Trossard, [Alexis] McAllister, [Solly] March everything is progressing with [Pascal] Gros just gives up and ties the game. It was very good and impressive to watch.”
Rory Jennings, meanwhile, has been known to divide opinion with his footballing suggestions. In July, he said there was no guarantee Erling Haaland would be an immediate success in English football.
“You know that formality, that it’s a foregone conclusion that Haaland will score 20 goals. I just don’t understand why we’re so confident about that,” Jennings told talkSPORT.
“Maybe he will. I’m not saying he won’t. Maybe he will. But I would also say coming into a new league is tough.
“Coming to a new team is difficult. Coming to a new team who are already champions, so they don’t have to change their game – you have to fit into their system. They are the champions, you are not .
“You think about the players who have come from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, they haven’t exactly set fire. Kai Havertz, OK. Timo Werner, abysmal. Jadon Sancho, OK.
“There is a constant flow of players who have arrived from the Bundesliga and they haven’t been outstanding and there is no guarantee that Haaland will land and score.”
🤷♂️ “I just don’t understand why we are so confident about Haaland!”
👀 “Look at the players who have come from the Bundesliga to #PL…”
“What I find difficult is this guarantee #Haaland!”
Rory Jennings Says We Have To Judge Manchester City Striker Erling Haaland! 🤔 pic.twitter.com/JPfXp4YUed
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 23, 2022
Do you think Welbeck deserves a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad if he continues to impress for Brighton?
Let us know in the comments.
