Two goals from Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing and one from Manchester United striker Alan Smith were enough to beat the Albanians, who scored through the impressive Besart Berisha.

But although Owen, sidelined for ten months with a cruciate ligament injury, failed to find the back of the net, McClaren insisted he was delighted with the former Liverpool star ahead of next month's double header against Brazil and Estonia.

McClaren said: "It would have been good for Michael to cap his night off with a goal, but his overall performance was good and he linked the play very well.

"The icing on the cake that the goal would have brought was missing, though.

"It was tremendous for him to get 90 minutes under his belt, however. That's the first time he has done that in an England shirt for almost a year and he just needs more games now.

"He looked sharp and he looked strong and the goals will come, there is no doubt about that. He was getting in all the right positions, so it's just a matter of time before he starts scoring again."