Legends Rate Welbeck's Rise

Two Manchester United legends have been praising the progress of Danny Welbeck, following the striker's latest goal in a heavyweight contest.

The 21 year-old Mancunian has started four of the Reds' last seven games and has scored three goals in that spell, including Sunday's winner at Arsenal. This followed, of course, his stunning strike at Manchester City's expense, earlier this month in the FA Cup.

Speaking to ManUtd.com and United Review, Andy Cole acknowledged the way Welbeck has become a viable alternative to Javier Hernandez, while Paddy Crerand talked on MUTV about Danny's still-continuing development.

"I think Danny’s brilliant, and it's fantastic for his confidence that he’s starting so many big games," Cole told us.

"Javier Hernandez has been injured and has been finding it tough to repeat what he did in his first season. Sometimes your second season is your toughest, I went through that myself.

"Danny has come in and grabbed his chance with both hands and he's playing very well. He's playing with confidence and getting goals too."

The former United striker can see a comparison between Welbeck's way of playing and the style which helped Cole himself to score nearly a century of goals for the Reds.

"You might say I was a bit of an old-fashioned centre forward when I played, in that I always wanted to try and run in behind defenders and get chances that way. To see Danny doing that is great.

"He can play in front of defenders as well, but when he runs in behind them he causes a lot of problems."

Crerand agreed with Cole in his assessment of Welbeck's form, after watching from the gantry at the Emirates as Danny netted against Arsenal and went close on a few other occasions.

"He's been terrific Danny Welbeck, he's coming on," said Paddy.

"He's still a young kid learning the game but he's getting better.

"I don't think he's fully grown yet either. With his effort that was cleared off the line [by Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker], I'm not sure whether he clipped his own heel or not but if that hadn't happened, the ball certainly would have ended up in the back of the net.

"The manager has shown the great faith he has in Danny by playing him."