The striker has proven a big hit at the Stadium of Light this season while on loan with Steve Bruce’s club and he has no doubt benefitted from playing first team football.
But the England Under-21 international has now hinted that his long-term future could lie away from Old Trafford as the prospect of returning to training without being guaranteed a place in the first team is not a good one for the player.
"I've not really thought too much about what I'm going to do, but I've really enjoyed my time at Sunderland," said Welbeck to the Press Association.
"It has benefited me massively, just to be around with the big boys week in, week out. I'm delighted with that, but the end of the season will be the time to sit down and think about the future.
"I'm like anyone else, I want to play every week. Football is my job. I like training hard and then playing in games, but we will just see what happens in the summer."