Harry Kane made a big impact after his introduction from the bench against Lithuania, but on Tuesday night it was his Tottenham team-mate who stole the limelight.

Nine minutes after entering the pitch, Townsend drove a fierce 20-yard drive past Gianluigi Buffon to earn England a creditable 1-1 draw against Italy at the Juventus Stadium.

England, with Kane in their starting XI for the first time, were poor in the first half.

Wayne Rooney hit the bar, but Italy had the best chances and kept the ball superbly.

Phil Jones looked like a fish out of water playing in the holding midfield role and he gifted Italy the lead when he allowed Giorgio Chiellini to brush him aside and set up Graziano Pelle for the opener.

The Italy striker may have gone 13 Premier League games without a goal, but he glanced past Joe Hart easily after being left unmarked in the box.

England lacked rhythm, width and flair in the first half, but after the introduction of Ross Barkley and Townsend, they looked far more threatening and ended the game on top.

The improved performance was not enough to yield a second goal, but Roy Hodgson will still be happy that his post-World Cup unbeaten run remains intact thanks to Townsend’s third international goal in seven appearances.