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Welbeck move good for player and England, says Hodgson

Danny Welbeck is currently on England duty ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Norway © Getty Images

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England manager Roy Hodgson has claimed Danny Welbeck's deadline-day move from Manchester United to Arsenal is good news for both the striker and the national side.

Arsenal needed a two-hour extension to sign Welbeck as the transfer window closed at 11pm on Monday, with the 23-year-old eventually moving to the Emirates in a £16 million deal.

'Falcoa is United statement of intent'

Wayne Rooney speaks to the media © Getty Images

• Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United's capture of Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan is a "show of intent" by the Old Trafford club.
  
  The United captain hailed Falcao as one of the best players in the world after the Colombian's deadline-day move from Monaco.
  
  But Rooney, who will also lead England when they take on Norway at Wembley on Wednesday, said he was unsure what the striker's arrival could mean for his position in Louis van Gaal's starting XI.
  
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Hodgson, who will take charge of his first England game since the disappointing World Cup campaign against Norway on Wednesday, said Welbeck would benefit from playing more often at Arsenal.

The striker risked being frozen out at Old Trafford after new manager Louis van Gaal brought in Colombian forward Radamel Falcao from Monaco in a last-minute loan deal.

"The biggest bonus is for Danny Welbeck," Hodgson said. "When you are a player of his calibre and find yourself at United with competition for places, you don't always get the starts you would like.

"He is going to a club where he will hopefully get more starts and playing time.

"It is not easy for players playing a small part in club games, then coming and playing 90 minutes for England in intense surroundings.

"So I am pleased for Danny and I think Arsenal have signed a good player.

"But my job is with England and the players I choose. I don't wish to make any suggestions about what clubs do with their players. But I cannot deny the more players play and the more experience they get, especially at Champions League level, the better it is for me at international level."

Hodgson will be forced to select a new-look England XI to face Norway on Wednesday, following the retirement from international football of former captain Steven Gerrard and the experienced Frank Lampard.

But the manager insisted England are working hard to recover a "feel-good factor" ahead of the Euro qualifiers, which kick off later this month.

"It's been very good, we've only been together since Sunday evening but we seem to have crammed an awful lot in with our meetings and training sessions I get get the feeling the players cant wait to kick off this new campaign," Hodgson said.

"We would like to get that feel good factor but we are still aware the two-year journey is a longish one and will see a lot of changes."

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