It is early days, but Brighton & Hove Albion look eager to prove they can cope without Danny Welbeck’s goals after last season’s top goalscorer moved to next opponents Chelsea this month.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side followed up their 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium in their opening 2026-27 Premier League fixture at the weekend by thumping Tromso there by the same scoreline last night (Thursday). The result meant they cruised into today’s league-phase draw for the UEFA Conference League in Monaco, following last week’s goalless first leg in Norway.
The exit of 35-year-old Welbeck — part of a summer cull of senior pros — felt, at the time, like a severe blow to the club’s domestic and European ambitions. After all, he scored 13 league goals in 2025-26, the best return of his career, to spearhead a second successive eighth-placed finish under Hurzeler.
While his former club were sending Tromso back to the Arctic Circle with the icy chill of a comprehensive defeat, Welbeck was quick off the mark on his Chelsea debut, scoring in a 2-0 win against Luton Town of League One in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge. The decision not to grant his desire to double the length of his contract from one year to two may yet backfire but, for now, goals are flying in from all areas for Brighton.
