Ethan Nwaner scored his full debut in England under 21 with a goal in their 4-2 friendly victory over Portugal in Hawthorns.
Arsenal’s young man was especially impressive and it took only 10 minutes to open his account.
Hayden Hackney had opened the result for the hosts, but Fabio Silva lowered the deficit for Portugal in the 22nd minute.
Omari Hutchinson, who was sent against France three days ago, added the third of England before Carlos Forbs pulled a back to Portugal with five minutes left, but Jaden Philogene was assured of victory at the time added.
Lee Carsley has been looking for his first victory since he returned to Dugout under 21 after his temporary period with the old side and he made nine changes from the beginning XI who lost 5-3 in France on Friday night.
James Beadle was called twice to open five minutes to deny Tiago Thomas’s low attempt to be pierced before Silva stopped shortly afterwards.
England did not have to do much before they opened the result forward.
Hackney was alert to tap while Portugal intended to play from the back and he let him fly out of the box for his second goal in Hawthorns this season.
Carsley’s team had a second with 10 minutes an hour thanks to a part of the glitter from Nwaner.
Job Bellingham noticed Nwaner in space outside the box, and the 18-year-old professionally moved the ball to his left foot and bent it to the lower corner.
England was close to a third when Hutchinson raised an effort for Joao Carvalho and seemed to dance while Joao Muniz cleared the line.
Portugal was also impressive moving forward and they finally had their reward in the middle of the first period – Mateus Fernandes of Southampton noticed the direction of Rodrigo Pinheiro and his cross was tapped into the house from Silva.
Portugal must have been at the level soon afterwards. Beadle’s rapid thinking withdrew from Silva but the ball fell to Gustavo as with a goal in his mercy, but he saw his attempt by falling from the post.
The game lit up in life when Carsley made five second half replacements and England soon had a third.
CJ Egan-Riley was thrown above a corner and instructed a head on the hutchinson trail who was able to knot in the house from the near distance.
Borges hit again to Portugal but Philogene rounded the night with his fourth goal for under 21 years of age.
