Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney insists Brighton star Danny Welbeck should still be playing at Old Trafford.
Welbeck emerged from the United academy in 2008, playing alongside Rooney for six years.
While earmarked for a long career at Old Trafford, the striker was sold by Louis van Gaal in 2014, joining Arsenal.
Injury problems curtained his career in north London but after a spell at Watford, Welbeck has been reborn at Brighton – scoring a sensational winner against Newcastle United on Sunday as the Seagulls reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
His stellar season on the coast comes during a campaign where United’s options up top are desperately out of form.
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While Welbeck will turn 35 this year, Rooney would like to see his old teammate back at United leading the line.
‘Danny’s great to play alongside,’ Rooney told BBC One, speaking after United’s FA Cup defeat to Fulham.
‘If I’m completely honest I’d probably like to still see him here, playing for Manchester United.
‘He’s scored goals throughout his career.
‘He had injuries in the early part of his career but he seems to have got over them and he’s having a fantastic season.’
Welbeck has bagged seven Premier League goals this season, more than United pair Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have managed between themselves.
Hojlund has now failed to score in his last 18 games, struggling again against the Cottagers before he was replaced by 17-year-old Chido Obi in the second-half on Sunday evening.
The former Arsenal youngster outshone his older teammate, giving Fulham’s Calvin Bassey some real trouble and producing his side’s best chance to win the game in extra time only to be denied by a superb save from Bernd Leno.
Obi has now made three appearances from the substitutes bench and with Hojlund and Zirkzee still misfiring, may have more chances presented to him in the coming weeks.
‘What I’ve really liked about him is he’s put himself in some really good positions — I’ve been really impressed by him,’ Rooney said of the youngster.
‘He looked like the one who could go on and nick it.’
United’s focus will now shift to the Europa League, their only hope for silverware this season, with a trip to Real Sociedad waiting on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s side then host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
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