England relished a new beginning that distracted the public from the debate over the miseries of the World Cup. Wayne Rooney was in uncontainable form and showed his flair by setting up three of the goals. It was from his service that Jermain Defoe completed a hat-trick in the 86th minute. Shortly before, the substitute Adam Johnson had notched his first international goal. There was, all the same, one troubling moment in the apparently grave knee injury that saw Michael Dawson taken off on a stretcher. Other concerns were minor.

The side was far from authoritative before the interval. Relationships are under repair following the hapless campaign in South Africa.

West Brom have bulked up their squad ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline by signing former Wigan player Paul Scharner on a two-year contract.

Scharner, who can play in various defensive and midfield roles, joins West Brom as a free agent.

He has been earmarked for midfield duty by Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the midlands club claiming they fended off competition from rival Premier League clubs to sign the 30-year-old Austrian.

Fabio Capello names his squad to face Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Fabio Capello has named a 24-man squad for the opening double header of Euro 2012 qualifiers, which begins at Wembley on Friday with the visit of Bulgaria.