Manchester United Boss Defends Goal Shy Welbeck

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is not worried about Danny Welbeck's poor goal return this season.

The England international has found the back of the net just twice this season, a header at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid in a Champions League clash and a strike against Stoke City in a 4-2 win at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old has drawn his share of criticism for his paltry return this campaign; the forward lies well behind fellow strikers Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez in the goal scoring charts, while fullbacks Rafael da Silva and Patrice Evra have also featured on the score sheet more often than Welbeck.

But Ferguson has defended the forward, and remains delighted wwith his application and desire to improve his record in front of goal.

"Last year he had 12 goals, this year he's only got two, so that's a big drop," Ferguson told Inside United.

"But that drop doesn't concern us because he still applies himself really well and still looks to score, still looks to get a chance and with that kind of courage he will eventually become a regular goal scorer."

Ferguson has often utilised Welbeck in a variety of different positions throughout the season, on the wing or as a second striker on the majority of occasions. Ferguson admits Welbeck's desire to give his all the team is a reason behind his constant repositioning, but insists the forward is making progress that will see him utilised through the middle with time.

"Maybe he doesn't appreciate us moving him around in various positions and we've maybe overused that because he is so young.

"But his value to the club is there because I know he can do a job for me in any of those positions. It is a fantastic asset when you have a player who is adaptable as that.

"But I think he will find his role through the middle once he gets that maturity and gets into a more consistent way of scoring."