Nine games in and Danny Welbeck has already scored more goals than he managed in 29 Premier League appearances last season.

Despite throwing away a 2-0 lead against struggling opponents, there were one or two positives for Brighton to take into next Wednesday’s Carabao Cup last-16 tie with Liverpool (19:30 GMT).

One of them is the scoring form of 33-year-old Welbeck.

He has found the net in three successive games for only the third time in the Premier League, previously doing so in January 2014 with Manchester United and November 2010 with Sunderland.

Against Wolves, Welbeck produced another composed finish from an angle to open the scoring after stepping up to captain the side after Lewis Dunk injured his ankle in the warm-up.

Welbeck already has six Premier League goals this season – one more than he managed for the whole of last season – and looks at the top of his game as he approaches his 34th birthday next month.

If Brighton can stop throwing away leads, they just might be able to challenge for a European spot if Welbeck keeps up his form.