Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has backed Danny Welbeck to play into his 40s after watching the striker snatch a hard-fought Premier League victory at Newcastle.
The 33-year-old clinched a 1-0 win at St James’ Park on Saturday, before leaving the pitch on a stretcher, after the visitors had survived a first-half onslaught in which keeper Bart Verbruggen excelled.
Seagulls head coach Hurzeler was full of praise for the former Manchester United and Arsenal frontman and predicted he could go on to emulate team-mate James Milner, who is still going strong well into his 39th year.
Asked how long he could continue, Hurzeler said: “If he continues to behave like he does, then he can play on for a long time. We have another player who is an age of nearly 40 and he’s still there and trying to be the best every day. That’s the same for Danny.
“I knew [when I came] he had great talent and he’s a great team-mate and very supportive. He’s not only a great footballer but a great team-mate and personality.
“He has a feeling for the dynamics of the team and he tries to connect the players. That’s very important for me.”
Welbeck’s goal 10 minutes before the break came after Verbruggen had denied Alexander Isak one-on-one as the home side allowed a series of chances to go begging.
But having survived the first half, Brighton exerted a greater measure of control after the break and might have won more comfortably had substitute Kaoru Mitoma found the composure to make the most of two late chances.
However, Welbeck’s afternoon ended prematurely when he was caught in the back by defender Fabian Schar’s knee and had to be carried from the field.
Hurzeler said: “He will have a scan and hopefully we know more later. I think he got the opponent’s knee in his back. Hopefully it’s not that bad, but we can’t be sure. Let’s wait for the result of the scans.”
It proved a frustrating afternoon for opposite number Eddie Howe, who saw his side lose at home for the first time since January and extend their wait for a goal from open play to just under seven hours of football.
Howe said: “I’m really frustrated because I thought our general performance today for 65 minutes was really good.
“I think that’s the best we’ve looked, the most dominant we’ve been in a game and lo and behold, we have plenty of chances, don’t take them and concede a poor goal from our perspective from Brighton’s first real meaningful attack.
“Of course, we only have ourselves to blame for that. We need to look at that and analyse that, but the majority of the performance, especially in the early stages of the game, was very, very strong.”
The Magpies saw claims for an early penalty for handball against Joel Veltman waved away, leaving head coach Howe to reflect upon what might have been.
He said: “I haven’t seen it back. A couple of our coaches have and they’re adamant it was a penalty.”
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
- 1 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 2 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 3 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 4 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 5 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 6 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 7 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 8 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 9 Liverpool interested in signing Mason Greenwood
- 10 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt