Welbeck: I can be prolific

Danny Welbeck insists he has what it takes to be a prolific goalscorer for club and country.

The 23-year-old forward, who joined Arsenal from Manchester United on transfer deadline day, is set to start England's opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland after first-choice striker Daniel Sturridge suffered a thigh injury during training this week.

Welbeck's goalscoring record is somewhat underwhelming - 29 goals in 142 games for Manchester United and eight in 27 for the national team - but he believes he can improve his goals-to-games ratio, especially if he plays in his favoured centre-forward position.

"I prefer to play as a centre-forward," he told the Sunday Times. "We'll see (about his scoring rate) when I get my opportunity to do that. I've never had the opportunity to get a consistent run of games as No 9 but have faith in my ability."

With the international retirements of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, Welbeck now finds himself among the most senior members of Roy Hodgson's England squad and he admits it is time for his game to reach its maturity.

He said: "I'm no longer a young player. There are a lot of younger players than me in the squad, by quite a few years.

The Holland boss has nothing but praise for the young winger and feels he has a bright future ahead of him

Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink believes that PSV attacker Memphis Depay has the potential to become his country's best player.
The promising youngster, 20, rose to prominence this summer with a string of fine performances at the World Cup after previously impressing in the Eredivisie and Hiddink has little doubt the winger has a bright future ahead of him.
"Depay has the potential to become Netherlands' best player," Hiddink told NOS.
"I've noticed that he has even more potential than I first thought now that I'm working with him.
"He still has plenty of room for improvement. I first thought that it was hard to approach him, but I was wrong. He is incredibly interested and keen to learn.
"I can't say yet whether he will start against Czech Republic, but that's definitely an option."
Depay has made 10 international appearances so far, scoring twice in the process.

The former Liverpool boss feels that Louis van Gaal is running the risk of being left behind in the race for the Champions League places if he persists with his 3-5-2 formation

Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness warns that Manchester United are in for "a long and painful transition" if Louis van Gaal continues with his new 3-5-2 formation.

The Dutchman took Netherlands to third place at the World Cup over the summer using the new system but has yet to secure his first win with the Red Devils while adopting the same shape.

Souness argues that United are running the risk of being left behind in their quest to return to the Champions League.

"A coach has to be brave to say that he is going to pursue a system before he gets to know his players," he wrote in The Sunday Times. "They have to buy into it.

"If Van Gaal is determined to persist with a back three, this is going to be a long and painful transition for United. The team may take until November to settle down. You ain't going to win the league if you take that long and you might not make the Champions League places either.

"United have already dropped seven points from a possible nine. If you continue with three at the back and the results are not improving, players will not be slow in turning round and pointing their fingers at the coach, saying: 'It's not that I am not playing well, it's the system.'"

Van Gaal spent a British-record £57.9 million on signing winger Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid late in the transfer window and Souness feels that a four-at-the-back system would better suit the Red Devils' new star man.

"Di Maria is too much of a winger to play as a wing-back so he would play one position inside the widest man in a 3-5-2," the Scot observed. "If you play with a back four, you can play him wide, as Argentina did when he made three goals and scored the other in their 4-2 win over Germany [on Wednesday].

"There is a question-mark against Radamel Falcao as well. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January and missed the World Cup.

AC Milan 3-1 Lazio: Inzaghi era starts with a bang Goals from Keisuke Honda, Sulley Muntari and Jeremy Menez gave the Rossoneri a comfortable victory at San Siro, with Alex's own goal a mere consolation for the visitors Filippo Inzaghi's competitive debut as AC Milan boss started in style as they comfortably defeated Lazio 3-1 in their Serie A opener on Sunday. A legend at Milan, Inzaghi was appointed as Clarence Seedorf's replacement in June and the Italian is tasked with returning the club to their former glories after a dismal 2013-14 campaign. Keisuke Honda gave Milan an early lead at San Siro, before second-half strikes from Sulley Muntari and new arrival Jeremy Menez ensured the hosts began the new season in ideal fashion. Alex, another new signing for Milan, turned the ball into his own net midway through the second half as Lazio reduced the deficit, but the visitors' evening was summed up when Antonio Candreva won and then missed an injury-time penalty as Milan debutant Diego Lopez denied him with an excellent save Like their hosts, Lazio are also under new management, but Stefano Pioli was unable to garner anything from his first Serie A match in charge. The result means Lazio's long wait for a league win at San Siro goes in, with their last triumph coming back in 1989, when Paolo Maldini's own goal secured a 1-0 victory. Inzaghi included three debutants in his starting XI as Lopez, Alex and Menez all featured, while Lazio's new signings Dusan Basta, Stefan de Vrij and Marco Parolo made their league bows. Milan made a bright start and were ahead as early as the seventh minute courtesy of a fine counter-attacking goal.

Zaha returns to Palace Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha on a season-long loan deal, both clubs have announced. Zaha returns to Palace after just two appearances for United, despite costing the Old Trafford club £15million in January 2013. The 21-year-old becomes new Palace boss Neil Warnock's first signing in his second stint in the Selhurst Park hotseat. Palace said in a statement on their website: "Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm that winger Wilfried Zaha has re-joined the club on loan from Manchester United. "The two-cap England international has agreed a deal that will see him spend the entire 2014/15 season at Selhurst Park."

Leicester sign Cambiasso Leicester have pulled off a surprising coup by signing former Inter Milan and Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso on a 12-month deal. The 34-year-old had been without a club since being released by the Italian giants over the summer, which ended a decade-long spell at the San Siro in which he helped Inter win several trophies. But the Foxes announced in a statement on Thursday evening: "Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Esteban Cambiasso on a one-year deal." Cambiasso had been heavily linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League newcomers and his signing will add much needed experience to their midfield. He made 52 appearances for Argentina, scoring five times, before retiring from international duty in 2011, although it is with Inter where he excelled. e was integral to the treble-winning side of 2010, where Inter lifted the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League, while he made over 300 appearances for the side after moving to Italy from Real Madrid in 2004.

Barcelona confirm Douglas deal The Blaugrana have announced that the right-back will arrive in Catalunya before the end of the week to undergo a medical and then sign a five-year contract with the club Barcelona have agreed a transfer fee with Sao Paulo for Douglas that could rise to €5.5 million. The Brazilian club announced last week that the right-back was bound for Camp Nou and the Blaugrana have now confirmed the 24-year-old's imminent arrival in Catalunya. "FC Barcelona and Sao Paulo FC have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of the player Douglas Pereira," read a statement on the Liga side's official website. "The cost of operation is €4 million plus €1.5m in variables that are dependent upon games played. "Douglas will travel to Barcelona later this week to undergo a medical. He will sign a contract with FC Barcelona for the next five seasons." Sao Paulo president Carlos Migue Aidar admitted that he was sad to be losing Douglas and that the deal had been complicated by third-party ownership.