England 2 : 1 Italy

UP AND RUNNING ... Daniele De Rossi beats Michael Carrick to open the scoring

Captain Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, back from more than two years in self-imposed exile, and debutant Tom Cleverley, who supported striker Andy Carroll, all linked well.

In fact, this game was bad news for Lampard bashers.

Lamps, 34, has been written off again and again.

When he missed the Euros through injury, it seemed the sands of time had caught up with him.

But Hodgson promised Lampard that his England days were not over and his performance last night showed there is plenty of mileage left in the tank.

Meanwhile, both keepers who won their first caps — teenager Jack Butland, who started, and John Ruddy, who came on at half-time — could be satisfied with their efforts.

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