Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck admits he feared for his Euros chances after being cut down by Manchester City's Nigel de Jong last season.

The 21-year-old United striker was nearing the end of his breakthrough season at Old Trafford, Euro 2012 beckoned and suddenly heartbreak loomed.

"I went home that night with all sorts of emotions going through my head," recalled Welbeck to the Daily Mail. "At that point, I felt really downhearted. I didn't know what was happening.

"But it was definitely about keeping positive. It's football and sometimes you're fit and sometimes you're not. You just have to take what's in front of you and build on that.

"I knew that once I got back in the gym I could do stuff like work on the bikes and the different machines, just to get ready for when I could get back.

"There were times when I was thinking, "Oh, I won't be able to make it", but the manager kept faith in me. I'm just lucky it wasn't as bad as I feared."