Zamora backs Welbeck to force England recall for World Cup

Brighton coach Bobby Zamora believes Danny Welbeck still has a realistic pathway back into the England setup, insisting the experienced forward can force his way into contention ahead of the next FIFA World Cup.

Welbeck was notably absent from Thomas Tuchel’s most recent squad, despite the England boss naming an expanded 35-man group during the last international window, a decision that raised eyebrows given the striker’s consistent club form.

Zamora, now part of Brighton & Hove Albion’s coaching staff, has made it clear that the focus at club level will be on sharpening Welbeck’s output in front of goal to make him impossible to ignore.

The former striker outlined a structured, performance-driven approach aimed at maximising Welbeck’s strengths and aligning his game with the demands of international selection.

“For me, when we get back together after the international break, it’s sitting down with him and saying, ‘Look, how can we get you in that England squad?’,” Zamora told The Argus.

Despite being in the latter stages of his career, Welbeck remains a key attacking figure for Brighton, offering leadership, movement and tactical intelligence in the final third. However, Zamora acknowledged that numbers will ultimately define his international chances, with a clear emphasis on increasing goal returns.

“How can we make it that they cannot say ‘No’ to him and how many goals is that going to be?” he said.

Central to that plan is a detailed breakdown of Brighton’s attacking patterns, particularly the supply lines feeding Welbeck. Zamora highlighted the importance of identifying consistent chance creation zones and refining the striker’s positioning to capitalise on them.

“And then it’s working almost backwards from that,” he added.

Brighton’s recent attacking play has seen a notable reliance on wide deliveries, especially from Yankuba Minteh, whose crossing ability has become a key weapon. Zamora suggested that Welbeck’s movement in the box must evolve to better anticipate these deliveries and exploit high-percentage scoring areas.

“Right, you’re going to need X amount of chances per game. Where are these chances going to come from? Who are the main suppliers for you?” he explained.

With England competition intensifying in attacking positions, Welbeck faces a significant challenge to reclaim his place. Yet Zamora’s confidence reflects a belief that with targeted adjustments and clinical finishing, the striker can still mount a late push for international recognition.

“There’s lots of different parts that we can look at and we can work on,” Zamora concluded.