Soccer: Welbeck eyes spot up front in Brazil

Danny Welbeck.

Danny Welbeck will this week travel to Burton for more England training, head on to Wembley to face Peru and then jet out to Miami for two further friendlies and warm-weather work. After that, he flies on to Brazil. Welbeck, 23, stands at a crossroads as well as at a check-in.

The Manchester United and England striker wants to play a more central role for club and country. "I'd like to play central," he said. "I've been playing on the left for a while and it's got to the time where I want to stake a place up front."

With England, Welbeck has been used on the left but also through the middle. He has scored eight goals in 21 internationals as against 29 in 139 games for United where he became particularly frustrated under David Moyes this season.

One of the most naturally upbeat members of Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad, Welbeck was in reflective mood as he prepared to report for duty at St George's Park. "I wouldn't say I play better for England but my goals-per-game ratio is definitely better," said Welbeck, who feels that the defensive demands are more with United than England when he is used wide. "On the left for England with three in midfield and three up front there's a bit more defensive cover rather than me being that defensive cover.

"If you're on the left of a 4-3-3 I find that position really good. I can play in any formation but if I was to play on the left I'd rather play there if there was three in midfield. For United I'm more likely to be left wing of a four-man midfield with only two centre-mids. So it's a bit more difficult to make those runs to get in and score when I've got to think about my defensive duties as well. You can't find the time to keep attacking."

At United this season, he was left out by Moyes, leading to reports of his dissatisfaction. "It does get frustrating. You want to be playing in a certain position and you're not getting the opportunity to do that. But it's the same for everyone else when they are being played out of position and they don't really like it."

Asked for his verdict on the season at United, he replied: "I'd rather not think about it." As to claims that he was leaving United, he said: "I'd rather not answer that question."

He also rejected suggestions that he had fallen out of love with the game. In November, Moyes talked to Welbeck about his shooting, saying: "Danny, you need to be out there every day finishing, even if it's 15 minutes at the end."

He also appeared to call into question Welbeck's attitude to training.

"I was pretty surprised to be honest," Welbeck said. "I've grown up at Manchester United and been professional all through my career. I always do extra work. It's born and bred in me to do extra work after training and maybe he wasn't seeing that extra stuff."

Welbeck is so keen to shine in Brazil that he worked hard on his fitness while on a brief break in Dubai before joining the England squad in Portugal. He ends training sessions with some sprint work.

If he gets a chance in the fast lane in Brazil, Welbeck knows his performances will be scrutinised by United's new manager, Louis van Gaal. "I'm pretty sure he will be watching. In the World Cup I want to make sure I show my quality."