Michael Owen Explains How Danny Welbeck's Departure Will Help Manchester United in Short-Term

Liverpool legend Michael Owen believes Danny Welbeck's departure from his former club Manchester United will help academy talents to make it to the first team in the short-term.

The England international joined Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window on the final day of the summer transfer window. Also, United manager Louis van Gaal allowed Javier Hernandez join Real Madrid on a season-long loan.

The 20-times English champions signed Radamel Falcao on loan from AS Monaco and the Colombian, along with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, are the key players to lead United's attack this season.

The Dutchman is 31, while Rooney will turn 29 this month. Owen believes the first choice strikers at United are likely to be on top for the next few years and the former Red Devils striker has backed Van Gaal to promote young players.

"Danny Welbeck leaving has voided a nice little drop down in age. Then there are a couple of good kids. James Wilson is a good player and you never know what is going to come through the academy," Owen told the Manchester Evenings News.

"The here and now is very exciting and the here and now for the next few years is very exciting. But obviously in the coming years you would expect United to invest or produce another good youngster to take on that baton in the future."

"When I say the here and now I'm talking the next three or four years. Certainly Rooney and Falcao - Van Persie is getting a little bit older so he has two or three years at the top still, who knows?"

"You would say in the next two or three years Louis van Gaal would be wanting to win something. Wanting to get back into the top spot in the next couple of years," he added.

Meanwhile, Owen has labelled United's current attacking trio of Falcao, Van Persie and Rooney as exceptional.

"It's an exceptional attacking unit Certainly every time a team sheet comes out at Old Trafford or whenever they play away from home, you look at it and think how many good players are there in that team? It's a mouth-watering attack," the former England international concluded.