Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro will tear it up at Chelsea — I outscored them both so I’m just waiting for my offer

DANNY WELBECK, Joao Pedro and myself were all relegated with Watford in 2020. Absolutely no one would have imagined two of those would be back together at Chelsea this season. Welbeck opened his Chelsea account with a goal against Luton on Thursday Credit: Every Second Media/Shutterstock Joao Pedro has also started the new season in wicked form Credit: Alamy Live News. Having outscored the pair of them that year, I just cannot believe I didn’t get a call from someone at Stamford Bridge over the summer. But Welbz and Joao are a fantastic duo for Chelsea to have together as the Blues look to build something different under Xabi Alonso. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Joao is primed for a big, big year. I’m not breaking any confidences when I say not making Brazil’s World Cup squad hurt him a lot. He’s the sort of player who doesn’t just want to be in the squad, he wants to be the No 9, their main man. That fire, a fine start against Fulham and a season without European football mean I can see him having a big year. I don’t think he will challenge for the Golden Boot, he’s not a killer like Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak — he’s more of a rounded, complete player who likes to create as well. But he has had that burning desire and focus to be at the top since arriving with me at Watford, when he was an 18-year-old who didn’t want to be told there was a pecking order. And he has not changed since, I can still pick the phone up to him and have a chat whenever and he’s the same kid. Another Brazilian I played with at Watford, Richarlison, is completely the other way — I don’t recognise him now, it’s night and day. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Joao still has that fire and Welbeck is the ideal foil for him. He used to get called Uncs, Uncle Welbeck or Welbz when we were at Watford together (above) and I’ve known him since he was at Manchester United. He’s just infectious, a great personality, never miserable. Trust me, Watford is a place that you can be miserable very, very quickly. I don’t think there was a day where he came in and was down. Every time smiling, just an appreciation of playing football for a living. He’s competitive, wants to play, wants to be fit and available — and he does the work. Danny got off to a flying start with his header against Luton on Thursday and you could see he has already made a big impact in the dressing room by how buzzing his new team-mates were celebrating his goal. If Alonso wants to rotate or needs to move Pedro a bit deeper, I can see Danny slotting in easily. Sun man Deeney was Watford captain when playing alongside Joao Pedro Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images Deeney also starred with Welbeck at Vicarage Road Credit: Getty Images He can play old-school in a two, on his own, meet crosses or, as he has done at Brighton, play in a more intricate system. He’s also in unbelievable condition. If Danny’s got his top off and you are a young lad, you’ll go, ‘Wow, who is that?’ That whole package is huge for Chelsea as they look to add some maturity to a talented squad. And it is not just Pedro he will help. I can see him rubbing off on Cole Palmer. Being from Manchester gives them something to connect over and Palmer’s cheeky response when asked after the win over Fulham if he is ready for this new season — saying, “Did you not watch the game?” — showed me he’s been hanging around Danny. We can’t get too overexcited by just one Prem match. But Chelsea made a good start, and if Danny can keep everyone’s heads up and Joao can maintain that form, my two Watford mates are on for a big year at the Blues. Comment now