England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck was strongly considered for a return to the national team setup before being narrowly left out of the latest squad.
A Narrow Miss for the Three Lions
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after announcing his squad on November 7, 2025, Tuchel admitted the decision was a tight one. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has been in exceptional form, scoring six goals in his first ten Premier League appearances this season, forcing his name back into international contention.
With recognised strikers Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke injured and Ivan Toney not selected, Harry Kane remains the only out-and-out centre-forward in the group for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.
Tuchel's Verdict on Welbeck's Prospects
When asked directly if Welbeck was in the running, Tuchel was unequivocal. "Yes, he was close," the England boss stated. "I think it's always an option because he's a fantastic leader in Brighton and a very special player. He's scoring regularly and, yes, he was close. He's not out of the picture. He's in contention."
Tuchel went on to explain that the team ultimately "decided for other options," but emphasised that the 34-year-old's international career is far from over, particularly with an eye on next summer's World Cup.
Brighton's Vote of Confidence
Welbeck's club environment has been fully supportive of his England ambitions. The striker recently shared a heartening anecdote from the Brighton dressing room, revealing that head coach Fabian Hurzeler and his teammates had openly backed him for a recall.
"It wasn't a big thing," Welbeck explained. "It was just at the start of a meeting when we went in in the morning and he [Hurzeler] just said, 'hands up if you think Danny can play for England'. Pretty much everybody's hand went up."
Despite the external noise, Welbeck remains focused on his club duties. "I'm really confident in my ability that I can perform at the highest level," he said. "I'm enjoying playing here at Brighton and that's what my focus is on. The rest of it will sort itself out."
Welbeck, who has 16 goals in 42 England caps, has not played for the national team since 2018 but appears to be firmly back on the radar as the race for World Cup places heats up.
