Shaun Wright-Phillips scored the winning goal in Fabio Capello’s first ever match as England manager – and the Manchester City winger will hope another decisive strike will edge him ever closer to South Africa.

Wright-Phillips has found himself out of favour since Roberto Mancini took over at Eastlands, but his talents appear to be appreciated by at least one Italian.

He certainly did himself no harm, coming on as a second half substitute to fire England ahead against Egypt and then provide the cross for Peter Crouch’s second of the night to complete a comeback for Capello’s side.

While both Wright-Phillips and Crouch strengthened their claims for the World Cup, the England manager only confirmed what many are beginning to believe – that he is the man to lead the nation to glory at this summer’s finals.

Of the numerous criticisms of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s regime, it was the Swede’s inability to alter a match mid-way through that was seen as his Achilles heel.

The same cannot be said of the incumbent manager.

He demonstrated in Holland last year that he could galvanise a second half fight back – England clawing their way back from two goals down to earn a draw. And last night, after a listless opening period with his side trailing to Mohamed Zidan’s opener, he made the necessary changes to inspire an impressive turnaround.

On came Crouch and Michael Carrick at the start of the second half, Wright-Phillips after 57.

All played their part in a convincing win, that for long periods never looked like being that way.

England had been well and truly second best from the off, with the defence looking shaky right up to Zidan’s well-taken strike, when capitalising on a slip by Matthew Upson.

Terry – booed by sections of the Wembley crowd as soon as his name was mentioned in the starting line-up – carried his unconvincing club form into the match and England could count themselves lucky not to be more than one goal down at the interval.