We smiled when, in May 2009, Sir Alex Ferguson said that Danny Welbeck was going to make it "at the highest level" and would be part of England's 2010 World Cup squad.

Instead of going to South Africa, the striker spent last year on loan to Preston and Sunderland. Ferguson was obviously just trying to boost the confidence of his young player. We should have known better and not doubted the judgment of the most successful manager in British football history.

Welbeck may have missed out on last year's World Cup but he seems certain to play alongside Wayne Rooney on Friday when England plays Montenegro in Podgorica, where a point will secure qualification for Euro 2012.