Welbeck Reveals Manchester United Frustrations

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck admits he became frustrated last season when asked to play on the left by David Moyes.

Welbeck scored 11 goals in 24 starts for United last term, despite rarely being used in his favoured central role.

The 23-year-old is now hoping to get a chance to operate in a three-man attack for England at the World Cup alongside Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge.

Welbeck, who was also used on the left for United by Sir Alex Ferguson on occasions, said: "It does get frustrating. You want to be playing in a certain position and you're not getting the opportunity to do that.

"It's the same for everyone - when they are being played out of position they don't really like it.

"I'd like to play central. 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.

"My goals per game ratio is better for England. I'm much more free up front as there are three in midfield and three up front. That way there's a bit more defensive cover rather than me being that defensive cover.

"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 for me to maybe make those runs to get in and score those goals when I've got to think about my defensive duties as well.

"Maybe I'm kind of let off the leash a bit more for England than United."

Former United boss Moyes also claimed last December that Welbeck did not train hard enough.

The Scot may have intended his words as constructive criticism, but Welbeck did not take them well.

"I was pretty surprised to be honest," Welbeck said. "Before he made that statement I was doing extra training. Maybe he just didn't see it.

"I've grown up at Manchester United and been professional all through my career and 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.

"I was doing extras in the gym and on the pitch."