Welbeck worried he would be Euro casualty

Danny Welbeck had feared he would suffer Euro 2012 injury heartbreak but is now looking to build on scoring his first goal for England.

The Manchester United striker suffered an ankle setback during the finale to the domestic season against Manchester City which cast doubts over his participation in Poland and Ukraine.

But unlike John Ruddy, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill, Welbeck was able to make his comeback and netted the winner against Belgium on Saturday.

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He demonstrated a cool head in converting the chance laid on for him by United team-mate Ashley Young.

Welbeck said: “I was delighted to get my first goal for England. It was something I’d been looking forward to since I was a little kid.

“I’m now looking to build on that and get more goals under my belt and more caps as well but I’m just glad that I’m fit.

“At times I was thinking ‘maybe I won’t be able to make it’ but I’m glad the manager (Roy Hodgson) kept faith in me and I was always ready to go once I was called upon.

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“When I suffered the injury against City, I did initially fear the worst.

“That night I went home and all sorts of emotions went through my head.

“I didn’t know what was happening until I had the scan in the morning. At that point, it was very downheartening but luckily I’ve come back from that and it wasn’t as bad as I first feared.”

Match sharpness will now be the major issue for Welbeck ahead of the Euro 2012 opener against France next Monday but he is optimistic of being up to speed.

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He said: “The match fitness is definitely coming along. I’ve had a few training sessions under my belt and had 55 minutes against Belgium.

“It’s coming along and I’m just really looking forward to building on that before the first game next week.”

Welbeck received some words of advice from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson before joining up with the England squad.

It was Ferguson who had predicted two years ago Welbeck would be “a World Cup player” and he has continued to progress with the Red Devils.

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Welbeck said: “Just before I left to meet up with the squad, I had a few words with him (Ferguson) and he was congratulating me on making the squad.

“He told me to play my normal game once I go out there.

“As regards his comments (about being a World Cup player), that season I didn’t play as many games as I wanted to for United.

“It was tough because you’d be training for weeks and weeks and not getting a game and then you got thrown in once every five weeks.

“It was tough but when you hear stuff like the manager’s comments it does give you a lift although you can’t really look too much into it.

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“It’s all about yourself and keep pushing yourself to do the best you can.”

Captain Steven Gerrard believes the lower expectations levels on England at Euro 2012 could work in their favour.

Gerrard was part of the so-called ‘golden generation’ who failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in any tournament.

This time the optimism among England fans appears to be more realistic particularly with the spate of injuries which have ruled out Lampard, Barry, Cahill and Ruddy.

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Gerrard said: “The team and squad were built up as the golden generation and the expectation and pressure grew over the years.

“We were expected to deliver in a major tournament and, by deliver, that means going to a final or winning a trophy.

“We were put down as favourites in previous tournaments and maybe, because we haven’t done that (been successful), the expectations this time will be less. But that could suit us and turn into a positive.

“By the same token there will be a certain amount of pressure and expectation because we are England.”

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Gerrard believes England can finally move past the quarter-final stage in a major competition.

He said: “It would be stupid of me to set any goals or targets. Of course, everyone’s dream is to win a tournament but it would be stupid to set that as a target.

“There have been teams in the past that have won this tournament who haven’t necessarily been favourites so we have to go there and do as well as we can.

“If we click and gel, if we get that bit of luck, we can get over that hurdle of the last eight.”

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Winger Theo Walcott believes there are encouraging signs under new coach Hodgson although he feels it will take time before England are the finished article.

He said: “We are getting used to the way that Roy wants the team to set up and play.

“When you make a lot of changes, you always expect lots of little holes but I don’t think that was the case.

“It’s a positive going into the tournament.

“It’s always going to take time with a new manager, the way he wants the team to play.

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“It will take time but the most important thing is if we go out there in the Euros and perform well and work hard as a team, put in 100 per cent for the fans that travel. That’s all that we can ask for.”