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Xabi Alonso has admitted he is pleased that Danny Welbeck will be turning out for Chelsea rather than Brighton this weekend. The experienced striker boasts an impressive record in this fixture, and his manager has spoken warmly about the instant impact he is making at Stamford Bridge.

Welbeck is set for a quick reunion with his former club as Chelsea get ready to welcome Brighton in the Premier League. The 35-year-old spent six years with the Seagulls before sealing a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. During his spell on the south coast, Welbeck regularly troubled Chelsea. The veteran attacker scored six goals and registered two assists in nine top-flight games against the Blues, with his most recent goal against them coming in April.

Welbeck recently underlined that his finishing touch remains sharp by scoring with a header on his Chelsea debut. He got off the mark for the club in Thursday’s Carabao Cup second-round win over Luton Town. Blues manager Alonso is delighted to have the seasoned forward available to him ahead of the weekend.

"I am aware [of his record in the fixture] and I am happy he is with us!" Alonso said on the club’s official website. "He has many qualities. As a player, you see how intelligent he is, and he links well. Out of the box, he is able to combine, and in the box he is very intelligent to be in the right place. We saw that [against Luton]."

Welbeck is not the only experienced player to have joined Chelsea in recent weeks, with Jordan Henderson also arriving during the summer. Together, they have brought important leadership to Alonso’s squad. Alonso also pointed to Welbeck’s contribution away from matches, stressing the level of commitment he shows every day.

"On a daily basis, he is a great influence for the rest of the players," Alonso explained. "He trains really hard and is raising all the standards in training. This is something we think is important.

"They [Henderson and Welbeck] help but it’s not just them. Reece [James], Maxence [Lacroix], Morgan [Rogers] as well. Even if they are younger, they have a good impact.

"That was a very important decision in the squad planning - that we were bringing players who add not just on the field, but are ready to compete and who don’t need much time to make an impact. We are happy with that."

It remains to be seen whether Welbeck will be used against his old club on Sunday, with the final call resting with the manager. Still, his recent goal-scoring appearance indicates that he is ready to leave his mark in the Premier League.

After Sunday’s meeting with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will quickly turn their attention to another major test. Alonso’s side will then start preparing for a huge London derby against Arsenal next week.