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.