At the age of 35, Danny Welbeck returned to Old Trafford on Sunday and delivered another masterclass performance against his former club, scoring a stunning goal to help Brighton & Hove Albion secure a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Manchester United.
The moment of brilliance saw the veteran striker skillfully control a pass before unleashing a left-footed strike into the top corner, a goal that not only decided the tie but also reignited discussions about his remarkable longevity and professional resurgence.
In the aftermath of the match, when pressed to reveal the secrets behind his sustained high-level performance, Welbeck offered a characteristically humble yet humorous explanation. “I can’t give away my secret,” he joked to reporters. “If I say too much, drug testers will come for me!”.
He quickly clarified, attributing his fitness to natural gifts and disciplined habits: “I’m good, I’m clean, I’ve got good genetics, good family. My mum and dad blessed me with good genes. A lot of hard work. I work hard every day, I look after myself. I eat well, prepare well for every single training session”.
His current manager, Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, describes him as a “role model on the pitch” and a “great connector,” praising his unwavering dedication and clutch performances.
Welbeck’s decisive strike at Old Trafford is part of a broader narrative of a player enjoying a late-career peak. With nine goals already this season across all competitions, he is on pace to surpass his most prolific campaign, the 12 goals he scored for Manchester United in the 2011-12 season.
Since joining Brighton in 2020, he has become the club’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League. More painfully for United, this goal marked his eighth against his boyhood club since his departure in 2014, the joint-most he has scored against any opponent in his 17-year senior career.
His enduring connection to the club was evident as he received applause from all sides of the stadium when substituted.
His performance has inevitably sparked speculation about a potential recall to the England national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Former teammates and pundits have begun to advocate for his inclusion, with ex-England defender Phil Jones stating, “If there’s anybody who can contribute as well as Harry Kane this summer, could he be that guy? He’d certainly be a pick for me”.
Welbeck, who has 42 caps for England but none since 2018, remains focused on the present. “I’m focusing on the here and now,” he said. “I know in football it can change at the click of your fingers, anything can happen. So I’m just really enjoying the present”.
For Manchester United, the defeat was a disappointing result in interim manager Darren Fletcher’s second game in charge. Welbeck, who came through the United academy and was part of the club’s last Premier League title-winning squad in 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson, spoke graciously about his former teammate Fletcher, saying, “He helped me massively as a young player at Man Utd. I have the utmost respect for him”.
The loss, however, underscores the recurring theme of former players coming back to haunt the club, with Welbeck being one of the most persistent and potent examples.