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Age is no obstacle under the England manager's England squad. A temporary deal functions as a one-shot project – the 2026 World Cup or nothing – leaves requirement for planning past that event. His mark is linked solely to the success or failure in the World Cup campaign, hence the expected inclusion of veteran the midfielder, aged 36 less than a week following the World Cup kicks off.

Even if Harry Kane remains immovable, there might be a vacancy available to an athletic, clever, industrious striker, who can linking play plus leading the press, if Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke struggle. Any player meeting the requirements for modern forward play: step forward.

This season's highest-scoring Englishmen in the Premier League on four apiece are Burnley's uncapped Jaidon Anthony, also eligible for Jamaica, and the Brighton forward, whose most recent game with the national team was during the Russia 2018. If Henderson was a Gareth Southgate stalwart, then Welbeck was a favourite of Roy Hodgson, with 16 goals in 42 appearances representing scoring rate.

This season, the striker has been on par with every other forward from England. His finishing, shown in predatory strikes for Brighton versus the Magpies, only improves with age. His opener, a delicate chip, came before calmly slotting in after a Dan Burn tackle freed the ball. Calmness in the midst of a frantic match earned a vital win.

"I possess the love and love for football," Welbeck said post-match. "This is what I want to be doing. I'm feeling great. I'm strong and fit so I won't be retiring anytime soon."

Welbeck turns thirty-five next month, and at Brighton, the team he joined as a free agent in 2020, after a season at Watford, he is producing his finest form of his career, his goal average each match – zero point three six – higher than in his 20s or in his youth at Old Trafford. He returns to Old Trafford this weekend.

A Career of Resilience

The forward was early collateral in efforts to modernise after the legendary manager's departure, a process still nowhere near completion. He started – and still represents – the trend of ex-Red Devils flourishing away from Old Trafford's sapping turf. From the same youth nursery club which produced Manchester United with defensive and attacking talents, Danny was one of Ferguson's final fledglings.

Taken to Moscow with the 2008 Champions League final squad, the day before the big game he scored three goals in training. Despite being left out of the matchday squad, he slept in so heavily after the victory party that the manager told him to travel independently to the airport.

During Sir Alex's final Champions League match, a last-16 encounter back in 2013, he started Welbeck instead of Wayne Rooney, his work rate causing huge problems against the Spanish giants, only for his finishing to desert him. The Portuguese star's did not, and United exited.

Flourishing at Brighton

With the Seagulls, Welbeck has utilized advanced technology and the staff's rehabilitation knowledge to experience a late-career peak, an experienced hand in one of world football's top talent factories, his dependability an asset as potential – and managers – comes in and out.

Brought in when former boss was manager, prior to enjoying a close partnership with the Italian coach, he has partnered several forwards, with different abilities, from experienced and younger options to Evan Ferguson and João Pedro. Georginio Rutter, who supplied the assist in the recent match, is his latest frequent accomplice. Previously out wide with his former clubs, he has played through the middle almost exclusively.

After the victory over Newcastle, the Seagulls' head coach, Fabian Hürzeler, nearly three years Welbeck's junior, set aside the scoring, preferring to praise his complete contribution: "When we look at how he played, how many times he assisted the team defensively, the amount of tracking back? … It's about his role as a leader."

The Brighton boss has full membership on a distinguished list of coaches in Danny's fanclub. Will the England manager consider joining them?