Media review: England calls increase after Welbeck goal

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Nick Szczepanik

2025-11-02T11:15+00:00

Diego Gomez searches out Georginio Rutter, who created his second goal in our 3-0 win. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

The clamour for Danny Welbeck to earn an England recall grew louder in most reports of Albion’s 3-0 home victory over Leeds United, almost overshadowing Diego Gomez’s second-half double.

Justin Allen led the appeals to the national team’s head coach in the Sun on Sunday, writing that “Danny Welbeck sent another clear ‘pick-me’ message to Thomas Tuchel after scoring his sixth goal in five games.

“The 34-year-old fired Brighton’s opener after 11 minutes and surely the England boss will include him for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. His latest strike was his sixth in the last five Premier League games before Diego Gomez struck twice in the second half to wrap up a relatively easy three points at the Amex.

“Welbeck — who has not played for the Three Lions since 2018 against Switzerland — has a decent record at international level, having scored 16 times from his 42 caps. But the ex-Manchester United striker’s goals tally this season is only being beaten by Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford out of the current England squad.

Watch all the extended action against Leeds in an exciting fixture at the Amex. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

“His goal here was a typical striker’s instinct of being in the right place at the right time to convert Mats Wieffer’s pass. Brighton bossed this game from start to finish but missed a glut of chances before Gomez’ quickfire double in the 64th and 70th minutes.”

Dominic Akiboye echoed the thought in The Sunday Times. “Fabian Hurzeler can be pleased with the response from his side after a difficult week,” he wrote. “It was Danny Welbeck – who must be on Thomas Tuchel’s radar as a back-up option for Harry Kane before England’s squad selection next week – who put Brighton ahead. The 34-year-old has now scored six goals in his past five Premier League matches.

“Hurzeler’s side were relentless and dominated a physical Leeds in duels. They turned up the heat in the second half and got a second goal when Diego Gomez swept home after a driving run from Minteh. Gomez got his second following a similar run from Georginio Rutter.”

The Sunday Telegraph reported that “Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said he was sure the ‘other German’, Thomas Tuchel, will make the right call over whether to hand Danny Welbeck an England recall.

“The 34-year-old scored to take his Premier League tally for the season to six as Leeds were swatted aside 3-0 at the Amex Stadium. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker last played for his country in 2018 in a 1-0 defeat to Belgium at the World Cup in Russia, but his form at the start of this season has seen him climb to second in the league’s goal-scoring charts, the highest-placed English player.

“Welbeck stated his own case with a lovely near-post finish from Mats Wieffer’s cut-back after 11 minutes before Leeds went on to fall apart in the second half.”

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Danny Welbeck scores against Leeds United again, and Diego Gomez bags a brace, as Albion win 3-0 at the Amex on Saturday afternoon.

Ditto the Mail on Sunday’s Aadam Patel: “Danny Welbeck on the plane? That's what Fabian Hurzeler reckons, with the Brighton boss saying he is good enough to play for England and that he would not be surprised if Welbeck gets the call up from Thomas Tuchel next week.

"Welbeck, who last played for his country at the 2018 World Cup, is the top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season and he got his sixth of the campaign here. The striker turns 35 this month but he is arguably playing the best football of his career now.”

The BBC Sport website was more restrained, Adwaidh Rajan writing that “Welbeck also scored twice in wins over both Chelsea and Newcastle and netted in the loss at Old Trafford too, giving England boss Thomas Tuchel food for thought before he announces his squad for the games against Serbia and Albania.

“There was further cause for optimism for Hurzeler as Gomez clinched the victory with his second-half double to finally display the ruthlessness they had lacked recently. A second clean sheet in 22 league games was also welcome for Brighton, who extended their unbeaten home run to nine in the process.”

John Brewin of The Guardian was one of the few who stayed away from England speculation, offering instead a comparison of where Saturday’s two competing clubs find themselves.

“Harsh lessons for Leeds,” he wrote. “Brighton fans do not appreciate the cliche of the well-run club. Expectation has climbed far higher than mere subsistence, but they offer the paradigm of how to grow and prosper.

“Likewise a one-club city, with a large catchment area, Leeds also have legacy on offer. The sepia of the 1970s is yet to fade, even at a club previously chewed up by the Premier League vortex. Fans and media pack travel in large numbers, metrics for Leeds-related content remain large, but the first point in any revival is survival.

“Leeds were full of effort, but bereft of the class Brighton have collected from across the globe. What comes after establishing Premier League credentials is the question Brighton seek an answer for. They are a whirl of inconsistency; in the first half they hit creative heights then descended to customary flat spots.

“In the 11th minute, Lucas Perri rashly dashed towards Mats Wieffer after Minteh’s flicked pass. The entire goal exposed, Welbeck stroked in his sixth goal this season. Add frequent end-product to Minteh’s package and Brighton have another high-value gem on their hands.

“Brighton have recently gained the habit of scoring when their opposition have the upper hand; Welbeck’s winner against Newcastle last month came during one of those flat spots. After a Leeds attack broke down, Gómez converted from close range after Minteh had carved down the right, this time finding the correct ball.

'Gómez’s second soon arrived, Georginio Rutter, against his old club, the supplier following Jayden Bogle’s mistake. When Brighton hit the heights, they can be irresistible.”