Danny Welbeck: Does the brilliant Brighton striker deserve a call-up to the England national team?

Having scored six goals from seven shots on target, Welbeck is on course to surpass the top 10 goals he scored last season in the Premier League.

Many different strikers have played second fiddle to Harry Kane in recent years, but none of them are currently enjoying the kind of purple patch that Welbeck is enjoying.

Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: “If you look at the attacking options in Tuchel’s latest squad, there are not many clear alternatives to Harry Kane.”

“Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen and Bukayo Saka won’t fill that role, and Ollie Watkins wasn’t playing for Aston Villa, so any English striker who scores goals in the Premier League will be talked about.”

“It’s been seven years since Welbeck’s last international cap and he turns 35 this month, but Tuchel is not worried about the future. His only focus is the six weeks of the World Cup, so there is no reason Welbeck can’t be involved if he continues to score and remains injury-free.”

Injuries have derailed much of Welbeck’s career and have arguably prevented him from adding to his 42 England caps, but he now finds himself in the useful position of being able to contribute goals on the pitch and lead off it.

Welbeck added: “I love it here at Brighton. You have been very important, integral, on and off the pitch.”

“I enjoy the senior role as well, I know how important it was to me as a young man, by having senior members you can talk to, ask for advice, it has helped me hugely.

“It’s come full circle now, and I’m there to advise young people and help those around me. Slipping into this role has been very smooth.”

Welbeck recently told BBC Radio 5 Live that “the door is always open” with England.

He added: “I know that if I were called up I would want to do this job, but honestly that doesn’t cross my mind at the moment. I’m just focused on Brighton, winning matches and getting points.”

While Welbeck has played down his chances, Onuoha, who has played against Welbeck in the past, believes he knows Tuchel would be interested in him.

“You almost talk about him as if he’s never played for England before. He’s done this job before,” Onuoha said.

“With the profile he has, he can definitely fit into Tuchel’s style in that way. For someone to be like that, he knows he will be part of the conversation.”