Danny Welbeck's Sparkling Form Poses an Enviable Conundrum for Roy Hodgson

Swapping his boyhood club for the bright lights of London in the summer transfer window was a brave decision by Danny Welbeck. But the Arsenal forward looks like a player revitalised since his move to the Emirates Stadium, and the England national team are reaping the rewards.

Welbeck notched another brace—his second of the current qualifying phase—in the Three Lions' 3-1 triumph over Slovenia, helping Roy Hodgson's side continue their relentless march towards the 2016 European Championships. But with Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on the brink of a return to fitness, the £16 million man's prolific streak in England colours poses a conundrum for the England boss.

Here's the second of Welbeck's two goals at Wembley, per World Soccer Talk:

The former Manchester United man has expedited his status in the England setup from makeshift winger and gap-plugger to vital player. In Hodgson's diamond formation, Welbeck has flourished alongside Wayne Rooney as an orthodox striker, and now has a total of 12 goals from 31 England appearances, per TheFA.com.

But it's his recent form that his been particularly pleasing for those who frequent Wembley, as we can see here courtesy of Squawka:

Welbeck has made himself almost undroppable in this current England team. His work rate is admirable, his link play looks refined and most importantly for a forward, he's finding the back of the net on a regular basis. But when Sturridge is up and running for Liverpool, Hodgson has a big decision to make.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Assuming that Rooney—the national team captain—and Raheem Sterling—Hodson's preferred option in the No. 10 berth—are indispensable attacking players, Sturridge and Welbeck could be facing a straight fight for their spot in the international side.

The England boss did play the aforementioned foursome together in England's World Cup clashes with Italy and Uruguay, but with progress being made by utilising this new 4-1-2-1-2 system, there's no way he could accommodate them all going forward. Subsequently, Hodgson will have an enviable dilemma on his hands by the time the next international break rolls around.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It's something that was discussed earlier in the week by former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher. Speaking with talkSPORT (h/t Hamish Mackay of the Mail Online) he insisted that at this juncture, Welbeck should be considered ahead of the Reds man in the Three Lions pecking order:

"

Well I think certainly Welbeck now, I think he may have just edged ahead of Sturridge in terms of what he has done for England, you think of that game in Switzerland.

You can't just expect Daniel Sturridge to come out firing on all cylinders.

"

Warren Little/Getty Images

It’s a consensus that is difficult to disagree with at this juncture, as Sturridge’s 2014 has been punctured by injury concerns. By comparison, Welbeck is a player that has remained pretty much injury free, although his appearances were admittedly limited in the latter stages of last season at Old Trafford.

And although the Arsenal man hasn’t reached the levels Sturridge accrued last season—a campaign in which the Liverpool man netted 21 Premier League goals, per WhoScored—he’s making steady improvements. After just a few weeks under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, we’re beginning to see enhancements in his game, and leading the line for the Gunners he has netted five times this season already, per WhoScored.

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Subsequently, former England skipper Rio Ferdinand thinks it’s a role Welbeck must be trusted with going forward:

"

Can't see Roy putting Welbeck out on the wing again anytime soon!! #Flourishing

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) November 15, 2014"

The onus will be on Sturridge to put those early season woes behind him and rediscover the glittering form that made him one of the most feared forwards on the continent last season. With the next round of international fixtures not scheduled until March 2015, he has the time to get up to speed and give Hodgson a real headache in the games to come.

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This level of competition will be undeniably welcomed by all those involved in the England setup. You suspect the competition for places among the Three Lions forward line has been a massive catalyst for the ascension of Welbeck’s form and the threat of being ousted will keep both strikers on their toes, not just in England colours but for their clubs, too.

Hodgson’s players have afforded him the option to experiment, though. England are almost certain to qualify from their group after winning all four of their opening games, so it’d be wise for the former Liverpool boss to tinker with systems and personnel as the finals in France approach.

And who knows, should Welbeck keep banging them in for club and country and should Sturridge reach the stratospheric heights of last season upon his return to fitness, perhaps someone else will have to make way to accommodate this pair of effervescent, hungry and prolific young forwards.