Will Sir Alex Ferguson Bring Danny Welbeck Through?

For every Beckham, Brown, the Nevilles, Butt, Scholes, O'Shea, Fletcher, we had Robins, Notman, Nevland, Healy, Rossi, and now possibly even Campbell.

It seems evidently to me, it is way easier to break through from the Academy at Manchester United if you ain't a forward. Of the lot that broke through the last 15 years or so, only Scholes played in a forward position.

Even so, Scholes was shifted into an attacking midfield position, albeit one which he excelled.

For the record, the last homegrown forward talent to breakthrough in my memory is a certain Mark Hughes.

The years thereafter, we have more often than not hear reports of some huge striking talent in our Academy only to see them play a couple of matches before being sold.

We had Mark Robins who scored a certain goal in a cup competition to supposedly save Sir Alex arse and the next thing we know of Robins was his sale to Norwich? Supersub label, huge potential, still, he wasn't to be a fixture in the first team.

Then, we had Notman, Nevland and probably a couple whom I have missed out and despite the rave reviews we hear of them at Reserve level, never made it in the long run in thhe first team.

David Healy was another. I really thought this lad had a decent chance of making it especially since he was already an International even before playing in the first team. What's more, before his recent stunning goals-ratio for Northern Ireland, he was already scoring regularly for them when he first started out.

So, just when we thought homegrown strikers were not likely to make the cut, foreign youngsters specifically Rossi were not spared either.

Rossi, much-hyped, with an incredible goal scoring at Reserve level to boot played in several first team games and if my memory doesn't fail me, played superbly in a cup game and scored a gem to have my local newspaper run an article on him, labelling him as the next big thing at Old Trafford.

Thank you but it is incredibly difficult for any young strikers to make the grade at Old Trafford.

Frazier Campbell had an excellent last season at Hull and when he came back, he saw and opportunity (when we had a lack of strikers) and turned down a move back to Hull. He played well enough in the opening game of this season (was it the Charity Shield?), and almost scored even.

I have nothing against Sir Alex but how often have we heard of him farming out youngsters on loan to gain experience? Campbell needed a chance and had he scored, I am sure he would still be on his way on loan to somewhere else to make space for an established striker.

Such is the reality at Old Trafford. Expectations are immense where strikers are the ones who will win you the three points are expected to deliver straight away. Defenders and to a certain extent midfielders are different. If you can play at our level, bring something else which we do not have, you have a good chance.

There is however, just no room at Old Trafford to watch a young striker blossom.

Unless you are banging in goals the (every) moment you are elevated to the first team. Even if so, I am not convinced Sir Alex will put his faith on Academy graduates. Inconsistency and the need for experience will see every potential youth team forward loaned out.

Again, I have nothing against Welbeck.

Much as I would like as to have a homegrown Fowler, Owen, or even Rooney, I just have this gut feel that Welbeck will be sent on loan to further his education despite his wonder debut goal and unless he scores goals in bucket loads while on loan, he will like Campbell be with the likes of Healy, Rossi, and co. plying his trade somewhere else in the future.

The truth at Old Trafford is this: We cannot afford to have a blossoming striker. We only want proven goalscorers.