Fergie: Welbeck will be in the World Cup squad

The 18-year-old has made several impressive appearances for United this season.

“Danny’s a certainty to make it at the highest level. I’ve told Fabio Capello the boy will be in his World Cup squad next year,” Ferguson told the Sunday Times.

“Wide left or right or through the middle, he has the athleticism, guts, intelligence and talent to do the job.”

“He is going to be a big lad,” Ferguson added. “His height is about 6ft 1in now but the prediction is he’ll be 6ft 3in. He is yet to get the conformation in his thighs, so he is still gangly, but he is brave enough to carry that.

“When he completes his growing, he’ll really be something. Danny’s a terrific, down-to-earth boy and I’d like to have given him more chances by now, but at this stage of the season all our results are vital.”