Danny Welbeck in ‘best shape ever’ after winning goal vs. Nottingham Forest – Fabian Hurzeler

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler says Danny Welbeck is in his “best shape ever” after the 35-year-old striker reached ten Premier League goals for the second season in succession with the winner against Nottingham Forest.

Welbeck fired Brighton back into the lead in the 15th minute of Sunday’s 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium, two minutes after Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White had cancelled out the opening goal of a frenzied start to the match, scored by Diego Gomez after six minutes.

Welbeck’s strike makes him only the eighth player in Premier League history to score ten or more goals in consecutive seasons while aged 33 or older. Jamie Vardy most recently achieved the feat with 15 goals for Leicester in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

“It’s his effort, how he behaves as a professional,” Hurzeler told reporters after the match. “He is there for the team on and off the pitch. It is no coincidence when you see him working.

“I have worked with him now for almost two years. He seems to be in his best shape ever and therefore it is no coincidence, because how hard he works is just impressive. The medical team do a great job, together with his team-mates. He always tries to push himself.”

Welbeck needs one more goal to achieve a career-best tally in a Premier League season. League leaders Arsenal, one of his former clubs, are the next visitors to the Amex on Wednesday.

Brighton are up to 11th in the table after back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season, having won 2-0 at Brentford in their previous fixture.