According to a popular website, Danny Welbeck’s current market value is £3.6 million.

In fairness to transfermarkt.com, they provide a hugely informative online resource with a mind-boggling wealth of data on football around the globe.

But one suspects Albion would not sell their former England striker for that much now – unless he really wanted to go.

Or put it this way. To find a player with the expertise, ability and, as Graham Potter put it, “physical output” to do what Welbeck is doing right now would cost way more than £3.6 million.

He is in the best shape Potter has seen him in what is now the player’s third season with Albion.

And, while a modest goal return might affect the thinking of those who look only at numbers, the way he helps others play is invaluable.

Welbeck joined the Seagulls with the season under way two years ago and, this time last year, was still feeling the effects of a hamstring injury.

But, after surgery, he returned to play the second half of last season, leading the attack in a revised Potter masterplan which saw his side end the campaign on a high.

He has not netted in either pre-season or the league opener, despite some presentable chances, but he has continued to make things happen around him.

So, if he is looking better than for a long time, have Albion or the player himself changed anything about their working week between games?

Potter paused for thought, then told The Argus: “I don’t think so. Obviously, he has had the surgery that probably fixed the problem that has been there for a while.

“Now he has just had a period of training that has suited him and his body.

“We have always tried to manage that and build him up in a way that is the right thing for him rather than the right thing for all the players.

“You have to individually look at each player and say what’s the right thing.

“You get to know people and you try your best and find a way to keep working.

“I think time has helped us with that and now we are in a place where Danny played pretty much 90 minutes, first game of the season at Old Trafford.

“His physical output, in terms of what he normally does, was huge and it’ a great sign for him.

“As I have said, if he is fit and he’s enjoying his football, then he’s a top player.”

United could have done with him last Sunday, as their former defender Rio Ferdinand pointed out.

Potter said: “That noise, it is either positive or negative. You prefer it to be positive but Danny is old enough and wise enough to know not to get too carried away with that.

“He has had a lot of ups and downs in his career especially recently, so he is just enjoying the moment, he is present with the team, wants to help the guys and is enjoying his football and long may that last.”

Welbeck might have left in the summer.

Might have, theoretically. In reality, it appears that was never going to happen.

Potter said: “I didn’t have any doubts, no. It was a no-brainer to me because of what he brings on and off the pitch.

“He is as impressive off the pitch as he is on it so when you have got that then you realise that is a valuable asset.”

We are a long way from that moment when player and club alike need to decide whether their arrangement goes into a fourth season.

Welbeck will consider himself to have a few years left as a player yet although everything we hear suggests he could also be coach material when the time comes.

Potter was asked whether the player is now at the stage where he sorts his future year by year.

Things reached that point with Bruno in his later years.

It is understood contract talks over a coffee usually went along the lines of “another year, Bruno?”, “yes, sure, thanks!”.

As if he was being offered another café cortado.

Potter said: “I’m not sure. That is between him and the club to decide what is best.

“I have always kept it quite simple with Danny.

“If he is playing and he is enjoying his football and he is fit, then everything else takes care of itself.

“Then you can see his quality and then you can see what he brings to any team so it is really exciting for us, the level he is at.

“The job now is to keep him at that level.”

By doing nothing different.