Could Danny Welbeck be in line for a sensational England return?
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reports the 35-year-old Brighton forward has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s 55-man provisional squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup. That squad must be cut down to 26 players before June 1 with England aiming to release their final team by May 22.
Welbeck has been capped 42 times by England, but has not suited up for the national team since 2018. It’s no wonder as to why Welbeck is in Tuchel’s thinking. No English-born player has more than the Manchester native’s 13 Premier League goals this season. Welbeck has hit back-to-back seasons with double-digit goals for the first time in his 17-year Premier League career.
Welbeck has appeared at three major tournaments in the past for England. He was part of squads at Euro 2012 and World Cups in 2014 and 2018. Welbeck has 16 goals in an England shirt.
England could take as many as seven forwards with them to North America. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon of Newcastle and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka are virtual locks for the team. Among the other players in consideration are Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Cole Palmer of Chelsea, the Gunners’ Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, currently on loan with Barcelona.
The Three Lions will be a part of Group L along with Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England’s first match is set for June 17 against Croatia at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
