Danny Welbeck wants central role

Danny Welbeck is desperate to be given a long-term central attacking role for both England and Arsenal.

Welbeck has often been employed in a wide berth for Manchester United and the national team in recent times.

However, the 23-year-old, who left Old Trafford to join the Gunners on transfer deadline day, insists that he best in a central role. He is confident that a decent run in such a post would see him improve upon his record of 29 goals from 142 games.

“I prefer to play as a centre-forward,” Welbeck told the Sunday Times. “We’ll see (about the scoring rate) when I get my opportunity to do that. I’ve never had the opportunity to get a consistent run of games as number nine but have faith in my ability.”

Welbeck is now one of the more senior individuals in the England set-up, with several older servants having retired from international football.

“I’m no longer a young player,” said Welbeck, ahead of England’s Euro 2016 Group E qualifying opener away to Switzerland on Monday. “There are a lot of younger players than me in the squad, by quite a few years.

“It’s good to see that youngsters are being given the opportunity to play in the national side. You see in training the outstanding talent they’ve got and how it can have a massive impact.

“Coming to this stage of my career, I really want to push on and be the best I can be.”