Jermain Defoe scores on England return in comfortable win

Jermain Defoe marked his return to the England team with a goal as Jamie Vardy also scored in a comfortable 2-0 win over Lithuania on Sunday afternoon.

Defoe made his first appearance for England since 2013 and captain for the day Joe Hart allowed him to lead out of the team with mascot Bradley Lowery.

He opened the scoring with a fine finish following excellent work from Raheem Sterling on the left wing.

Bar one awkward moment just before half-time England were in total control but they found it difficult to break down a stubborn Lithuania side.

Vardy managed to get the second minutes after coming on as a substitute and it maintains England's grip on the group.

Drab affair but job done for England - It was another one of those England games. You know the sort. A laboured performance against poor opposition.

Lithuania posed no threat bar one chance late in the first half, and it was a ultimately a training session for England. They come away with three points, but it was alarmingly slow for large parts of the match, when it clear they could have run riot.

The introduction of Vardy and Rashford brought some fresh impetus to the side on the hour-mark, but column inches in the next 24 hours will not be flattering on England’s display. A comfortable win, but nothing to shout about.

Adam Lallana (England) - Tough choice this one. Raheem Sterling was England’s brightest player in the first half, but Lallana came out of his shell in the second – particularly when the changes were made.

It was the Liverpool midfielder’s cross which allowed Vardy to score his sixth England goal, while the duo almost combined for a third when Lallana played a terrific ball in with the outside of his foot.

Credit must go to Rashford for a 30-minute display littered with bursts forward and actual attacking intent. Something all too lacking in the opening hour.

England: Hart 6, Walker 7, Stones 6, Keane 7, Bertrand 7, Dier 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 5, Sterling 8, Alli 5, Lallana 8, Defoe 7. Subs: Rashford 7, Vardy 7.

Lithuania: Setkus 7, Vaitkunas 5, Kijanskas 6, Klimavicius 6, Slavickas 6, Kuklys 6, Zulpa 5, Novikovas 6, Slivka 6, Cernych 5, Valskis 6. Subs: Grigaravicius 6, Matulevicius 6, Paulius 6.

21’ - GOAL DEFOE! England 1-0 Lithuania - It's great play from Sterling, who leaves Vaitkunas for dead before picking Defoe out in the middle, and he makes no mistake from eight yards out. What a way to mark your return to international football!

45+1’ - OFF THE LINE! Hart can't quite believe the flag hasn't gone up here... The goalkeeper hoofs it forward and the header back finds Slivka, who beats Hart to the ball and heads it over the 'keeper. But Stones is on hand to rush back and clear it before it rolls over. Replays show the Lithuania forward about three yards offside!

48’ - CHANCE! Not entirely clear how Sterling has missed this. It's great play from Bertrand down the left and his low cross picks out Sterling at the back post, but he can't get a proper connection onto it and it's collected by Setkus.

66’ - GOAL VARDY! England 2-0 Lithuania - Thank you Jamie! A much-needed goal to lift the Wembley crowd. It's brilliant from Lallana, whose deft touch flicks on Walker's pass for Vardy, and the Leicester striker slots it home from 10 yards out.