Man Utd striker Danny Welbeck has powered his way to the head of Manchester United’s strike crew in the last 12 months with a little help from an Old Trafford legend.

The young Mancunian is in the form of his life, forming a deadly partnership with Wayne Rooney.

And, while he is currently living the dream, it was different picture a year ago.

“My aim has always been to play for Manchester United’s first team and luckily I am doing that at the moment,” the nine-goal striker said.

But 12 months ago he was at Sunderland and out injured as Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez set the pace in the Reds’ attacking department.

Ex-Sunderland boss and former stalwart United defender Steve Bruce persuaded Fergie to loan him out to the North East last season.

And Bruce, who lost his job on Wearside at the end of November, is in no doubt that the Manc’s stint at Sunderland has been the foundation for his success this term.

“Danny Welbeck was fantastic for me at Sunderland,” Bruce told M.E.N. Sport.

“All I think we could take credit for was the fact that he came to us at the Stadium of Light as a boy and he left as a man.

“That was achieved because we were able to give him minutes on the pitch. That was what he needed at the top level to bring his development on and that’s why United let us have him for the season on loan.

“We didn’t do anything special with Danny to make him more powerful but the progress was natural growth. He grew in strength and having time on the pitch was part of that.

“When you are a striker in the Premier League you have to be strong and Danny took that on board. The biggest thing for him was to be able to play.

“His progress was so good for us that he really started off as a bit of a bit part player but became the focus of our team.

“It was a slow start but once he gained in strength and belief it came together. The match that caught everyone’s attention was our 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.