Stuart Mathieson: Manchester United will benefit from Danny Welbecks Euro 2012 success
Danny Welbeck celebrates his strike in Uniteds memorable 8-2 victory over Arsenal last season When Uniteds Euro 2012 England contingent kick back on the beaches and reflect, only Danny Welbeck will look back on his adventure with any real sense of satisfaction.
That personal contentment will, of course, be tempered by the fact that his first Three Lions tournament ended early.
But it shouldnt detract from positives the Mancunian striker has added to his CV.
His Old Trafford colleagues wont look back with the same pride.
Wayne Rooney should be kicking himself as hard now as he booted Montenegros Miodrag Dzudovic last October.
That act of stupidity resulted in his two-match ban and meant the Reds hitman not only missed the start of the tournament, but couldnt hit the ground running when he did return, as shown by his sluggish performance in the quarter-final against Italy.
Roo did spark briefly with his headed winner against Ukraine but it didnt herald form that saw the 26-year-old take an international finals by the scruff of the neck like he did as a teenager at Euro 2004.
Ashley Young went to Poland and Ukraine backed by five goals from his previous seven caps stats that promised an influential contribution from the winger.
However, slamming his penalty against the crossbar in the shoot-out against Italy merely topped off a miserable Euros for him.
Meanwhile, defender Phil Jones came home without adding to his cap haul.
Fortunately for United, international tournament hangovers rarely linger when club action kicks in again.
But if youve had an impact, that will stick with you as Welbecks experiences have proved.
The 21-year-old progress chart is climbing straight and true and colle! ctive se tbacks just dont derail him.
This time last year, the Longsight-born forward was again poring over another international failure for his side while taking the positives from a personal triumph.
Last June, Englands Under-21s went to the European Championships in Denmark in buoyant mood.
Stuart Pearces squad, however, largely under-achieved.
They began with a creditable 1-1 draw in their group opener against eventual winners Spain.
That was followed by a 0-0 stalemate against Ukraine which set up the need for victory against the Czech Republic in the final match in order to progress to the knockout stage.
Sadly, the Czechs won 2-1 and Pearces lion cubs returned home licking their collective wounds.
But Welbeck flew back having scored both of Englands goals in Denmark against Spain and the Czechs. It was the perfect personal fillip to fuel his quest to break into Sir Alex Fergusons senior squad.
He had gone with the Under-21s on the back of a successful season-long loan spell at Sunderland. At the Stadium of Light he admits he grew from a boy to a man and that was reflected in him convincing United boss Fergie that he was ready for the step up on to the Reds senior stage.
Along with fellow young gun Tom Cleverley, he invigorated United at the start of the campaign with goals against Spurs and Arsenal. But a hamstring injury in the 8-2 destruction of the Gunners interrupted his bright opening.
He then suffered a muscle injury on England duty in November but, for the rest of the time, the Reds manager largely gave him his head as Rooneys strike partner, fending off the claims of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.
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The highlight was his winner at the Emirates against Arsenal in January.
Now he will be looking to take the promising last 12 months onto yet another level in the new season with an even more consistent offering for the Reds attack. Welbeck and his England Euro mates from Old Trafford are not due to return for the build-up to the campaign until late next month.
The bulk of the squad will be back next week in preparation for the pre-season tour of South Africa and China. But Welbeck and Co will miss that three-match warm-up.
However, they should be ready for match action again by the time United make a flying visit to Oslo on August 5 to play Valerenga ahead of the big kick-off at Everton.
Welbeck could, by then, have a new Old Trafford contract stuffed in his back pocket as the club look to tie him to a new lucrative long-term agreement.
He could also be facing new competition.
With Michael Owen gone and Berbatov expected to leave, Ferguson will have to look for a new import up-front to avoid a light three-man attack.
Borussia Dortmunds Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski, who also impressed at the Euros for the hosts, Athletic Bilbaos Fernando Llorente, who hasnt had a look-in for the Spanish, and possibly Schalkes Dutch prolific scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, are among the potential candidates to bring Uniteds forward department up to numerical strength.
But it is the kind of challenge that Welbeck seems to warm to and, after his Euro 2012 exploits, it will be a case of bring it on as far as Danny is concerned.
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That personal contentment will, of course, be tempered by the fact that his first Three Lions tournament ended early.
But it shouldnt detract from positives the Mancunian striker has added to his CV.
His Old Trafford colleagues wont look back with the same pride.
Wayne Rooney should be kicking himself as hard now as he booted Montenegros Miodrag Dzudovic last October.
That act of stupidity resulted in his two-match ban and meant the Reds hitman not only missed the start of the tournament, but couldnt hit the ground running when he did return, as shown by his sluggish performance in the quarter-final against Italy.
Roo did spark briefly with his headed winner against Ukraine but it didnt herald form that saw the 26-year-old take an international finals by the scruff of the neck like he did as a teenager at Euro 2004.
Ashley Young went to Poland and Ukraine backed by five goals from his previous seven caps stats that promised an influential contribution from the winger.
However, slamming his penalty against the crossbar in the shoot-out against Italy merely topped off a miserable Euros for him.
Meanwhile, defender Phil Jones came home without adding to his cap haul.
Fortunately for United, international tournament hangovers rarely linger when club action kicks in again.
But if youve had an impact, that will stick with you as Welbecks experiences have proved.
The 21-year-old progress chart is climbing straight and true and colle! ctive se tbacks just dont derail him.
This time last year, the Longsight-born forward was again poring over another international failure for his side while taking the positives from a personal triumph.
Last June, Englands Under-21s went to the European Championships in Denmark in buoyant mood.
Stuart Pearces squad, however, largely under-achieved.
They began with a creditable 1-1 draw in their group opener against eventual winners Spain.
That was followed by a 0-0 stalemate against Ukraine which set up the need for victory against the Czech Republic in the final match in order to progress to the knockout stage.
Sadly, the Czechs won 2-1 and Pearces lion cubs returned home licking their collective wounds.
But Welbeck flew back having scored both of Englands goals in Denmark against Spain and the Czechs. It was the perfect personal fillip to fuel his quest to break into Sir Alex Fergusons senior squad.
He had gone with the Under-21s on the back of a successful season-long loan spell at Sunderland. At the Stadium of Light he admits he grew from a boy to a man and that was reflected in him convincing United boss Fergie that he was ready for the step up on to the Reds senior stage.
Along with fellow young gun Tom Cleverley, he invigorated United at the start of the campaign with goals against Spurs and Arsenal. But a hamstring injury in the 8-2 destruction of the Gunners interrupted his bright opening.
He then suffered a muscle injury on England duty in November but, for the rest of the time, the Reds manager largely gave him his head as Rooneys strike partner, fending off the claims of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.
Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney not at his best at Euro 2012, says R! oy Hodgs on
Alexandre Pato drops Premier League hint
The highlight was his winner at the Emirates against Arsenal in January.
Now he will be looking to take the promising last 12 months onto yet another level in the new season with an even more consistent offering for the Reds attack. Welbeck and his England Euro mates from Old Trafford are not due to return for the build-up to the campaign until late next month.
The bulk of the squad will be back next week in preparation for the pre-season tour of South Africa and China. But Welbeck and Co will miss that three-match warm-up.
However, they should be ready for match action again by the time United make a flying visit to Oslo on August 5 to play Valerenga ahead of the big kick-off at Everton.
Welbeck could, by then, have a new Old Trafford contract stuffed in his back pocket as the club look to tie him to a new lucrative long-term agreement.
He could also be facing new competition.
With Michael Owen gone and Berbatov expected to leave, Ferguson will have to look for a new import up-front to avoid a light three-man attack.
Borussia Dortmunds Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski, who also impressed at the Euros for the hosts, Athletic Bilbaos Fernando Llorente, who hasnt had a look-in for the Spanish, and possibly Schalkes Dutch prolific scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, are among the potential candidates to bring Uniteds forward department up to numerical strength.
But it is the kind of challenge that Welbeck seems to warm to and, after his Euro 2012 exploits, it will be a case of bring it on as far as Danny is concerned.
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