There was no goal to celebrate like Steve Bull enjoyed on his debut but, over 20 years on, Matt Jarvis’ achievement was just as proud.

Just stepping on the pitch as an England international was a golden moment for the flying Wolves winger, the stadium clock registering 68 minutes and 13 seconds as he made his entrance.

After Gareth Barry and Jermain Defoe tried and failed to play him in, it took three and a half minutes before Jarvis got his first touch of the ball as an England player.

But the Wolves man wasted little time settling in on the lush Wembley acres, chasing down a pass down the right before winning a throw when he tried to thread through Defoe.

Jarvis soon displayed an assured touch which saw him link in well with his new team-mates, chiefly James Milner.

And Jarvis continued to cause problems to Ghana left-back Daniel Opare, winning throw-ins and a corner as well as supplying a couple of probing crosses along with several neat exchanges of passes with Milner.

Looking ahead, Jarvis has a plethora of widemen to compete against for a place in Fabio Capello’s line-up.

Ashley Young and Stewart Downing not only showed Villa what they could be missing next season, but also what Jarvis can aspire to on the international stage.

He will know it’s a cluttered environment with Milner also capable of playing wide, as well as Aaron Lennon to come back from injury and Shaun Wright-Phillips maybe not entirely forgotten.

But he did himself no harm. As Graham Taylor said, if he wants more of the same, he must continue to perform well week-in, week-out. And that can only be good news for Wolves.

What Jarvis showed Capello on the pitch last night was only part of the assessment as to his suitability at this level, however. He would have been closely looked at during the week to see how he fitted into the exclusive England company.

Some players shrink without their home comforts, while others rise to the challenge.

Jay Bothroyd is unlikely to grace the international stage again, while only time will tell if Jordan Henderson gets another chance. One-cap wonders are a warning of what can happen if players fail to continue impressing for their clubs.

Jarvis by nature is a quiet, humble and unassuming man, but those endearing qualities should not be mistaken for someone who lacks determination.

His gradual but nonetheless emphatic all-round improvement to his game over the last four years from injured Championship hopeful to Premier League regular is testament to that.

And that upward curve should earn him another call-up.

By Tim Nash