Poor goal return for Danny Welbeck not a concern for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

The England striker has scored just twice this season

Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Anderson, Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck in a training exercise for Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not concerned at Danny Welbeck's paltry goals return for Manchester United this season.

Welbeck has scored just twice for the Red Devils, and only once in the Premier League.

It is a remarkable statistic, particularly as he has got three for England, and a massive downturn from the 12 he netted last season.

Although plenty of critics have questioned whether Welbeck's inability to find the net on a regular basis should prevent him from being quite as highly rated as he is, Ferguson has dismissed such talk.

In admitting his own decision to use Welbeck in a variety of roles, including to shut down Xabi Alonso during the second leg of that Champions League knock-out round clash with Real Madrid in preference to Wayne Rooney, has not helped the 22-year-old, Ferguson is still delighted with his progress.

"Last year he had 12 goals, this year he's only got two, so that's a big drop," Ferguson told Inside United.

"But that drop doesn't concern us because he still applies himself really well and still looks to score, still looks to get a chance and with that kind of courage he will eventually become a regular goalscorer.

"Maybe he doesn't appreciate us moving him around in various positions and we've maybe overused that because he is young.

"But his value to the club is there because I know he can do a job for me in any of those positions.

"It's a fantastic asset when you have a player who is as adaptable as that.

"But I think he will find his role through the middle once he gets that maturity and gets into a more consistent way of scoring."

PA