Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has backed Danny Welbeck to “carry on for a longer time”.
The 34-year-old striker scored his tenth league goal of the season with a first-half penalty in a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers that keeps Brighton’s hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.
It is the first time Welbeck has achieved a double-figure goal tally in a Premier League career spanning 17 years, having scored nine goals twice for boyhood club Manchester United (2011-12 and 2013-14).
Each of his last nine goals have either given Brighton a lead (seven) or drawn them level (two).
Asked if Welbeck can continue playing at the top level, Hurzeler said: “I think with Danny it’s not a hope. He has to just continue how he behaves at the moment, how he treats himself.
“He is very professional before training, after training, a lot of individual treatment, a lot of sacrifices for his body. So, I’m convinced that he can carry on for a longer time.
“James Milner (39-year-old team-mate) has proved already that it’s possible. I think he (Welbeck) gets some advice from him regarding nutrition and treatment.”
German substitute Brajan Gruda, 20, added his first goal in English football in the closing stages to keep Brighton in the hunt with Brentford and Bournemouth to finish in eighth place, which could be good enough to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Hurzeler’s side host champions Liverpool on May 19 before ending the campaign at Tottenham Hotspur six days later on May 25.
(Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)