‘MAD MAN’ TYSON’S WORDS GRIP DANNY

DANNY WELBECK plans to deliver a knockout punch at the World Cup – with a little help from former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

The Arsenal hitman, 27, is an avid reader of autobiographies, a hobby which grew during his rehabilitation after knee surgery two years ago.

And Tyson’s life story is one book that is rarely left on the shelf.

Welbeck said: “Straight after surgery, I couldn’t put weight on my leg for two months. I was just sitting around reading.

“Not just football but sports mentality books, autobiographies of different people.

“I like the Mike Tyson one – ‘Undisputed Truth’. He’s a fighter, he’s a mad man.”

Notch

Not that Welbeck is suggesting the controversial former boxer is a role model.

“I’m not just a fighter,” added Welbeck. “I like to give love as well. I’m a lover too.

“But you fight for competition in sports and you see in different athletes different mentalities. You take bits from each one.”

Whether Welbeck can rediscover the goalscoring form which saw him notch up 13 goals in his first four years as an England player remains to be seen.

But he believes he has developed a mental toughness as he has fought his way back from a succession of injuries.

He said “When you come back, you’re not going to be fighting fit. You’ve got to develop a robustness.

“Getting a big injury is not easy to deal with. Now I’m just glad that’s all behind me and I can look forward to the World Cup.”