World Cup

Danny Welbeck: 'I am motivated for World Cup'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 31 May 2018

England striker Danny Welbeck says that he is fully motivated ahead of this summer's World Cup after missing out on Euro 2016 with injury.

England striker Danny Welbeck has said that he is fully motivated ahead of this summer's World Cup after missing out on Euro 2016 with injury.

The Gunners striker suffered a knee injury leading into the last major tournament, which eventually kept him sidelined for eight months.

Welbeck has praised his own mental strength after recovering, however, and added that he is now focused on earning a place in Gareth Southgate's team.

"Missing out on the last tournament with injury was frustrating for me," the 27-year-old told Sky Sports News. "If you get a big injury, it is not easy at all to deal with it. It's a lonely period when you're not out on the pitch helping your teammates and doing what you love doing.

"But there are things you can take from it, learn from it, learn about yourself. You can develop mentally when you away from the pitch. You can take all that frustration, pain and hurt from not playing football and try and use that as a way of helping you and reminding you of what you are missing out on.

"I have had a lot of success on the international stage and I want that to continue. I won't be resting on my laurels."

Welbeck is the top scorer in the current England crop, with 15 goals from 37 games, although the striker has played just 45 minutes under Southgate so far.