Danny Welbeck injury return a reminder of Tottenham Hotspur’s lucky escape

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Danny Welbeck nearly joined Tottenham Hotspur before choosing Arsenal in 2014.

According to the Daily Mail, Danny Welbeck has returned to Arsenal training this week and could feature in Saturday’s North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur.

The 26-year-old limped off during the 2-1 defeat to Watford in October with a hamstring problem.

Had things turned out differently, Welbeck could well have been lining up for Spurs this weekend.

As Sky Sports reports, Tottenham wanted to sign the forward on loan before he joined Arsenal from Manchester United in 2014.

Spurs may have been disappointed to miss out on a talented, young England international at the time, but there will be few regrets about the failed move now.

Welbeck’s fitness issues mean that he has missed more matches through injury – 83, according to transfermarkt – than he has made appearances for the Gunners (77).

In the same period, Harry Kane has developed into one of the best strikers in the world, and Son Heung-min, who Spurs signed the following summer, has outscored Welbeck 32 to 20 in one less season in English football.

None of that may have happened if Mauricio Pochettino had got Welbeck as planned.

It was a lucky escape for Spurs in the transfer market, providing it does not haunt them this weekend.