DANNY WELBECK wants to concentrate on keeping Sunderland in the top half of the Premier League rather than think about whether he will be heading back to Manchester United in the summer.

Welbeck’s outstanding recent form for the Black Cats has increased the spotlight on him, with his value likely to have increased substantially on the back of his displays against Chelsea and Everton.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has already outlined an intention to discuss the prospect of retaining the 19-year-old beyond his season-long loan, although Sir Alex Ferguson will not be looking to move him on cheaply.

Ferguson was reluctant to let Welbeck leave last summer, when in the end he decided to pin his faith on the progress of Federico Macheda rather than his Manchester-born club-mate.

And with Welbeck performing better than the Italian, who has been linked with a switch to Juventus, this season the Ferguson will not allow one of his most promising youngsters to leave unless it benefits United.

"I've seen what Steve Bruce has said and there will be a decision I need to make on my future at some point," said Welbeck. "It's fine. At the moment, all I'm looking at is short term.

"I just want to do my best in every game and I'm not thinking about whether I go back to Manchester United or not at the moment."

"My aim was to come here and get minutes on the pitch. That is what I needed. When I was at Manchester United I was getting the odd chance here and there, but I was never ready to take them.

"I'd miss loads of games and then I'd be thrown in to it and I would struggle a bit to do myself justice. It's different here, I'm playing every game and I'm getting better and better.

"You can see that I'm benefiting from it, I'm confident and I'm really enjoying my football at the moment."

While Welbeck’s three goals in his last two outings have raised his profile nationally, it is worth noting that he had not scored in any of his previous 13 appearances for the Black Cats.

It is no coincidence that his best performances have been since the striker has been used as a two-man attacking partnership rather than as on the wing of a three.

Welbeck said: "I’m a centre-forward and that is my preferred position, but I’ll play on the wing or in midfield, wherever the manager wants me to play.

"I’m still learning my trade at the moment and I’m still developing. All the experience is good for me. Everything I’m doing here is helping and benefiting me. I want to work as hard as a I can for the team.

"We have relied too heavily on Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan to get the goals and it's nice I’ve finally been able to contribute as well. It’s taken me a bit of time but that's three in two games and I've got to be happy with that.

"We've got a great squad, we're a young team and we're very hungry. We're just looking to push on the whole time. It's a young English core and I'm really enjoying it."

Welbeck was rarely given an opportunity at Old Trafford, but he has previously spent time on loan at Preston, where he scored twice in eight appearances.

But his brace against Everton on Monday night was the first time he has scored two in match during the first three years of his career - and he could have added a hat-trick had he not wasted a late chance.

"I got my two goals against Everton and I was delighted with that, it's just a little disappointing we didn't get all three points as well," said Welbeck. "We were ahead in the game and we were a bit unlucky because they got a big deflection to put it in the back of the net.

"I felt I also should have got my hat-trick. I was gutted because at the time, it came to me, I got it under control and I thought I’m just going to bang this in.

"The defender got a bit of a touch and that it took it wide. I saw it on television afterwards and Andy Gray was saying could have passed it to Bent, but that was never going through my head. That was easier said than done really."