Welbeck: I was snubbed by City

“My Dad didn’t tell me at the time, it was just before Christmas and he didn’t want to break any bad news. It wouldn’t have mattered though. I am one of those people that if you are going to say something, just say it. I take it on the chin.”

“Straight after Christmas I played in a tournament for my local side, Fletcher Moss, and that’s where United picked me up. I went for a trial and have never looked back since. I was always a Red anyway.”

On Rooney: “He is a Scouser, I am a Manc, but we are good friends. We are always messing about and joking off the field, while on the pitch we just seem to work really well together. We kind of understand each other’s games. Obviously, partnering Wayne Rooney up front is a big honour and I’d hope he would say the same thing!”

On Fulham (next match in Premiership): “We have been in the situation a few times this season where teams just want to sit back at Old Trafford and try and get us on the counter-attack.”

“I think you have to keep playing your normal game, be patient and probe the openings by knocking the ball around. You can’t get too impatient, that is what they want. You can’t let them get into your head.”