Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has publicly voiced his support for Danny Welbeck to receive an England recall, putting the onus on England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, to make the final decision. Welbeck, 34, has not played for his country since 2018, but his current form has led to discussions about a potential return to the national team.
Hurzeler's endorsement comes amidst Welbeck's impressive start to the Premier League season, where he has scored six goals, making him the highest-scoring English player in the league. This includes a brace against Newcastle United and a goal against his former club, Manchester United.
"I just asked the question to the squad whether Danny Welbeck can play for England and they all agreed," Hurzeler said. "I'm very convinced for my players and I have a big belief that Danny will be able to play for England but I always try to emphasise that England has a great coach and he will make the right decisions. Let's see".
Welbeck's last appearance for England was on September 11, 2018, in a friendly against Switzerland. He has earned 42 caps for the national team, scoring 16 goals. Despite this international experience, he has been out of the England squad for seven years.
Hurzeler has emphasized Welbeck's value to Brighton, both on and off the pitch. "I know the value Danny Welbeck has for us and the value is crucial," Hurzeler stated. "I think it's not only the value he adds on the pitch by making assists, by scoring, by helping the team, by his work ethic. It's also the behaviour outside the pitch, how helpful he is to build this connection in a team, to build the social bond between the individual players and therefore he's crucial for me and the whole club".
Hurzeler also highlighted Welbeck's ability to connect with teammates and bring different cultures within the squad together, which he sees as vital for a positive environment and overall success. "He has a special skill when it comes to finding the opponent's goal, to be in the right position, to have a very clean finish, to smell where the ball might come down to finish the attack," Hurzeler added.
The competition for places in the England squad is fierce, particularly for a second or third striker role behind Harry Kane. Other contenders include Ollie Watkins, who played at the European Championships in 2024, Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona, Ivan Toney, and Liam Delap.
Despite the competition, Welbeck has presented a strong case for inclusion with his recent performances. Hurzeler acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with Tuchel, stating, "Again it's not my decision. I'm happy he's in my team. I'm sure the other German will make the right decision". He also mentioned his appreciation for Tuchel's work with the England national team and his past achievements with Chelsea. "I think it's always good for me as a young coach to have an exchange with these kinds of coaches. They have achieved a lot, especially Thomas, who has worked for England, and what he did with Chelsea was just as impressive. It's always an exchange that I can learn from," said Hurzeler.
