England passed their first test with flying colours after avoiding the potential banana skin in Moldova. Yet there is much more room for improvement and a tricky proposition at home to Ukraine on Tuesday night will tell us a lot more about this England side. On paper, Group H screams mediocrity and England will be expected to qualify without too many alarms along the way. Whilst Roy Hodgson seeks to negotiate a safe passage through the qualifying stages, it is also of paramount importance that he begins to sculpt this team into realistic challengers for Rio 2014.

Whilst England’s preparation for these international games has been unsettled by various injuries, Hodgson can gain a lot more from these two games than just the six points that England will expect to pick up.

There were no real surprises with Hodgson’s squad selection prior to the two games. Interestingly, from the Euro 2012 23 man squad, Liverpool trio Martin Kelly, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing were not part of the travelling party. With their game time limited under new Reds manager, Brendan Rodgers, there is certainly a feel that Hodgson wants to focus on those players that are going to be regulars for their clubs.

This point was perhaps emphasised by the recall (before injury ruled him out) of Adam Johnson, who was not considered in the England manager’s European Championship plans. Johnson was handicapped by his lack of appearances at Manchester City and his move to join Martin O’Neill at Sunderland is certainly a move he should prosper from in terms of furthering his England credentials.

Hodgson’s team selection could be described as conservative, as he resisted the possible temptation to discard the so-called ‘Golden Generation’. John Terry and Steven Gerrard will be 34 by the time Rio 2014 comes around and Frank Lampard will be turning 36. Whether Hodgson expects the trio to feature at the next World Cup is unknown. Perhaps he feels the experience of these older heads will prove crucial in ensuring a steady, no-frills qualification in addition to bringing on the younger players who will no doubt be integral in two years’ time.

The vast amount of injuries going into the international double header provided a headache for the England manager. With players who will certainly be prominent in Hodgson’s thinking going forward not available there is no way for him to fully implement his plans for this new look England side straight away.

Yet these injuries have given the former West Brom manager a chance to have a closer look at other players who are on the fringes of the starting eleven and who will be looking to force their way firmly into his thinking.

A point of significance surrounds the midfield. Michael Carrick is back in the fold after refusing to settle for a bit part role in the recent past. His U-turn would suggest that Hodgson has offered him an important role in this England set-up. He featured for the entirety of the second half during the 5-0 thrashing in Chisinau. Carrick put in a solid enough performance yet it is difficult for anything to be discerned from this outing.

The game, as it often does, lost its intensity and rhythm in the second period, as the Moldovans lost heart and England were coasting and became slightly languid, knowing their job for the evening was done. Carrick is a dependable performer for Manchester United and is highly regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson. Whilst not often putting a stamp upon a game as his talent suggests he can, his ability to retain possession is something which Hodgson will look to.

Question marks have remained regarding Frank Lampard’s involvement on the international scene, yet he popped up with two goals and clocked up 90 minutes in England’s first qualifier. It is doubtful that he will manage the same game time on Tuesday night and perhaps Carrick will be preferred to start. It was surprising that Steven Gerrard and Lampard were both accommodated inside England’s midfield on Friday night and it is unlikely that this will be a regular occurrence, as Hodgson looks to blood younger alternatives.

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