Ibrahimovic is threat, says Welbeck

Welbeck’s undoubted ability and freshness provide significant positives for England at this summer’s finals in Poland and Ukraine.

The 21-year-old is unburdened by past failures and approaches every game with the same chilled-out attitude.

Opponents are largely irrelevant. Some are tougher to overcome than others but each challenge is met with verve, dynamism and optimism.

A little knowledge can go a long way though, and in the case of Zlatan Ibrahimovic that means a place in Welbeck’s team.

“I really watch the Premier League,” said Welbeck, when asked what he thought of the powerful AC Milan forward.

“But on video games and consoles if you’ve got Ibrahimovic on your team you’re not sad. We all know the qualities he’s got.”

Shutting down Ibrahimovic is surely the key to an England win that would leave them well-placed to claim a quarter-final berth.

Yet manager Roy Hodgson’s team must also offer more going forward and not leave Welbeck as isolated as he was in Monday’s draw with France.

Even then the young forward impressed, although his industrious display would have come as no surprise to those at Old Trafford, especially Sir Alex Ferguson, who three years ago identified Welbeck as a possible for Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

“The manager at United has always shown a lot of faith in me,” said Welbeck.

“He’s always been there to go to for advice.

“He’ll speak about everything. To have him looking over me is very beneficial.”

This month Gary Neville has taken on the job in a surrogate capacity following his appointment as an England coach, the former full-back’s vast experience contributing to the relaxed mood.

“I really like him,” said Welbeck.

“Obviously I’ve been with him for quite a few years at United, so I can go up to him and talk to him about anything.

“He’ll have the best advice because he’s been in every situation before.”

All the advice is certainly paying off.

Welbeck won only his sixth cap against France, and was making his first competitive start after rejecting overtures from Ghana, where his parents were born.

However, such is his growing influence that when he went down in the Donbass Arena after being trodden on by Adil Rami, there was a sharp intake of breath. After all, he was clutching the same ankle injured by Nigel de Jong in the Manchester derby six weeks earlier that made him a major doubt for the tournament.

“I was worried because it was the same ankle,” he said. “But I got up and carried on. It’s fine now.”

As a child, Welbeck had a useful mentor in Wes Brown, who grew up in the same Longsight district of Manchester.

A decade on from Brown’s selection in the 2002 World Cup squad, Welbeck is now gracing a major tournament.

It is a measure of his youth that the earliest England memory he can summon up is Michael Owen’s blistering contribution to the 1998 World Cup.

Latterly, he has watched Wayne Rooney at close quarters, both as a fan and team-mate.

“I grew up watching Owen and Rooney but by training with them, I gained some tips to put into my own game,” he said.

“Wayne lets you know if he’s seen a weakness in the opposition and how you can exploit it.”

Yet Welbeck can do plenty on his own too, one of those fortunate players for whom the right thing seems to be instinctive, like his superbly-taken goal against Belgium recently.

“It gave me a big confidence boost,” said Welbeck.

“If it was a tap-in I’d have been happy and obviously it was a friendly, not a competitive match, but it gives you that confidence boost.

“Now I can’t wait to get going out here, knowing if I get an opportunity I can stick it away.”

It was interesting to observe Welbeck, who spent most of his time sat back in the same chilled-out way he lives his life.

Not that it should be taken as indicative that he is anything other than serious about his game, more an acceptance of his ability and a determination to enjoy it.

“I love football,” he said. “I don’t see any need to worry about it.

“You’re going to come across the good and the bad but you’ve got to take it in your stride.

“I’ve been put in a position to lead the line for England.

“It’s not something I’m scared of. I’m relishing the opportunity. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

With manager Hodgson expressing doubts over Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker’s ability to play every four days, the much-criticised Jordan Henderson could have a big part to play in Poland and Ukraine.

Henderson insisted yesterday he relished the digs about his performances since he joined Liverpool because it made him even more determined to prove the doubters wrong.

The 21-year-old admitted he initially struggled to cope with the criticism but had become “more of a man”, allowing him to shrug off claims he did not deserve to be part of England’s European Championship squad.

“Maybe at the start of the season, I needed to deal with the increased scrutiny that comes with playing for Liverpool a little bit better,” Henderson said.

“But I wouldn’t want it any other way now.”