James Milner and man of the match Gabriel Agbonlahor proved the future can be bright for England as well as Villa last night as Stuart Pearce’s side overwhelmed Portugal.

Milner – Villa’s record £12m signing and 37-under-21 cap record holder – and Agbonlahor scored the goals as England clinched a play-off place for the Euro under-21 Championships next year, as the leaders made it just two points dropped from a possible 24, writes Tim Nash.

Both Villa players showed a maturity beyond their years and surely it is only a matter of time before they make the step up to Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

Playing as a lone central striker, Agbonlahor in particular showed how much his game has developed with a mature performance full of strength and pace.

Those qualities were never more in evidence than when he raced clear onto a Mark Noble pass from just over halfway and swatted away the fiercest challenge by Vasco Fernandes before tucking home a deflected shot off keeper Rui Patricio from a tight angle six yards out.

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.

James Milner and man of the match Gabriel Agbonlahor proved the future can be bright for England as well as Villa last night as Stuart Pearce’s side overwhelmed Portugal.

Milner – Villa’s record £12m signing and 37-under-21 cap record holder – and Agbonlahor scored the goals as England clinched a play-off place for the Euro under-21 Championships next year, as the leaders made it just two points dropped from a possible 24, writes Tim Nash.

Both Villa players showed a maturity beyond their years and surely it is only a matter of time before they make the step up to Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

Playing as a lone central striker, Agbonlahor in particular showed how much his game has developed with a mature performance full of strength and pace.

Those qualities were never more in evidence than when he raced clear onto a Mark Noble pass from just over halfway and swatted away the fiercest challenge by Vasco Fernandes before tucking home a deflected shot off keeper Rui Patricio from a tight angle six yards out.

That came in the 63rd minute and sealed victory after Milner sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot a minute before the break.

The opener had a stamp of the West Midlands on it too as Paulo Machado’s slight push on Fabrice Muamba sent the former Birmingham midfielder sprawling inside the box from Agbonlahor’s run and left wing cross.

The outcome may have been different if Joe Hart hadn’t palmed away Adelino Fretias’s header or if Machado’s 25-yard drive had crept inside the far post.

But England were well worth their victory once they weathered a lively start from the visitors.

Michaell Mancienne headed just over before Agbonlahor teed up the pacy Adam Johnson for an angled effort tipped away.

After the break, England were even more impressive as Milner forced a diving save from 30 yards, Tom Huddlestone’s free-kick was clawed away and Mancienne nodded narrowly off target again, although Ricardo Vaz-Te missed a similar chance. Late on, England’s margin of victory could have been more emphatic but for Patricio denying substitutes Lee Cattermole and Fraizer Campbell, while Noble sidefooted straight at him.

Wolves winger Michael Kightly earned his fifth cap with a late substitute’s appearance.

Milner has challenged the senior squad to do the same tonight in theirWorld Cup qualifier against Andorra.

“Hopefully the seniors can do the same,” he said. “It just shows what quality and what a good unit we are – not just the 11 who started last night but all the way through.

“When you’re playing with players week in, week out, you know where they’re going to run before the opposition do so that helps. It will help having a few Villa lads in the squad because there’s a lot of talent at our club.”

Milner added: “The manager told us to get the first goal of the second half and we did that and could have had a couple more towards the end.”

England (4-5-1): Hart; Crainie, S Taylor, Mancienne, A Taylor; Milner, Muamba (Cattermole 56), Huddlestone, Noble, Johnson (Kightly 86); Agbonlahor (Campbell 76). Subs not used: O’Hara, Heaton, Stearman, Lennon.

Attendance: 27,732.