There is a familiar feel to Sunday’s fixture for Welbeck.

A career spent representing several Premier League clubs means the experienced forward has often found himself lining up against former team-mates. That will be the case once more when Chelsea face Brighton this weekend.

Yet familiarity will not diminish the significance of the occasion. Brighton remain an important part of Welbeck’s story, making Sunday a fixture he is eagerly anticipating.

‘It’s a special one because Brighton are my former team,’ Welbeck said. ‘Fortunately for me, I’ve played against my old teams quite a lot during my career, so it isn’t anything too new.

‘I’m really looking forward to it and I’m excited to keep pushing on.’

The game will provide another opportunity for Welbeck to build on a smooth start to life at Chelsea.

Moving to a new club inevitably brings a period of adjustment, with different surroundings, team-mates and working methods to become accustomed to. However, the forward has felt at home from the moment he arrived at Cobham.

He has been grateful for the warmth shown by his new team-mates, the staff and the Chelsea supporters, while the presence of several familiar faces helped make his transition even easier.

Throw in a debut goal against Luton Town on Thursday night and it's fair to say Welbeck is enjoying life as a blue.

‘I’ve really enjoyed it and it has been pretty easy for me to settle,’ he explained. ‘It’s such a great group and the staff are very welcoming in and around the training ground.

‘Everybody has been great with me and I’ve been received really well by the fans, so I really appreciate that.

‘It was also nice to know a few familiar faces when I walked through the door, which helped me settle. Now I just want to keep building and improving every single day.’

Welbeck is also enjoying the early stages of working under new manager Xabi Alonso.

The Blues are still adapting to Alonso’s methods, with new tactical information being introduced and players returning to the group at different stages following the World Cup and injuries.

Welbeck believes patience and hard work will be required as those ideas take shape, but he has been encouraged by the opening weeks and is excited about what lies ahead.

‘It’s been really good and it has been a positive start, but we’re only a couple of games in,’ he added. ‘We have to keep working hard and keep learning the new ideas he is bringing to us.

‘There are a lot of new messages, while some players came back a little later and new players are being integrated and having to settle. But it has been really good up until now and there are really exciting times ahead.’