LEN SHACKLETON did it against West Germany in the 1950s, Darren Bent did it once against Switzerland in 2010 and now Jermain Defoe has achieved the feat against Lithuania. Post-war Sunderland players who have scored for England form a select club, but once he was recalled from the international wilderness by Gareth Southgate after an absence of three-and-a-half years, there was never any doubt Defoe would join it.

He might turn 35 in October, and he might play for a side propping up the Premier League and seemingly destined for relegation. He might have effectively called time on his international career when he left English football for Canada in February 2014 and, prior to today, his most recent international goal might have come in a game that featured Frank Lampard, Scott Parker and Leon Osman.

Even so, Defoe remains one of the most reliable finishers in English football. Harry Kane is the only Englishman to have scored more Premier League goals than him this season, and he plays for a Tottenham side still harbouring hopes of winning the title. Defoe plays for a Sunderland team that have claimed just five league wins all term, yet continues to find the back of net with unerring regularity.

He might not be around for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, although on this evidence, you wouldn’t bet against it. Even if some of his injured rivals return for England’s remaining five qualifiers, he surely justifies a continued place in the squad.

His first-half strike paved the way for a unremarkable England win this afternoon, with Jamie Vardy adding a second goal seven minutes after coming off the bench in the second half.

England were functional rather than flamboyant as they tried to break down an obdurate and unambitious Lithuania side, and as is the case with so many qualifiers against lower-ranked opposition, their latest victory taught us nothing we did not already know.

They remain in complete control of Group F, but continue to look some way short of what will be required when they turn up to Russia next summer. They would have been much worse today, however, had it not been for Defoe.

The Sunderland striker had sat out last week’s friendly defeat to Germany, with Southgate selecting Vardy in an attempt to stretch and outpace the German defence. That policy had merits, even if England ultimately lost in Dortmund, but a home game against Lithuania was always going to represent a very different test.

Whereas Germany were keen to get on the front foot, Lithuania regularly pulled nine outfield players back into their own area. England needed a penalty-box predator, capable of finding space where little existed and making the most of the chances that came his way. Hence the call for Defoe.

The Londoner might be 34, but as this season’s scoring charts prove, there are still few better at sniffing out a goalscoring opportunity and converting it.

He barely touched the ball in the opening 20 minutes of today’s game, with England having to be patient in the face of a wall of yellow strung out across the 18-yard line.

He failed to capitalise on a half-chance when Adam Lallana’s through ball threatened to play him in behind the Lithuanian defence, with goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus charging from his line to ensure Defoe was never able to set himself before getting a scrambled shot away. Sixty seconds later, though, and he was breaking the deadlock in typically assured style.

Raheem Sterling was the provider, surging past his opposing full-back before pulling the ball back from the left-hand side. Defoe had located a pocket of space close to the penalty spot, and without breaking stride, he slotted a first-time side-foot into the bottom right-hand corner.

It was his 20th international goal, and his first since he claimed a brace against San Marino in March 2013. A lot has happened in an England context since then, but Defoe’s clinical marksmanship has remained a constant.

He went close again shortly after, dragging a 25-yard shot wide of the target after turning away from his marker, and it was his qualities that prevented England from entering the break on level terms.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proving wasteful as he partnered Eric Dier in a deep-lying role, and neither Sterling nor Lallana able to find much space in the wide positions, much of England’s attacking was ineffective.

Lithuania’s defensive mind-set provided some mitigation, but having stressed the need for a positive tempo before kick-off, Southgate will have been disappointed by the pedestrian nature of much of England’s play.

His side never really looked like squandering their advantage, although there was a scare on the stroke of half-time as an errant assistant referee almost handed Lithuania a chance they did not deserve.

Nerijus Valskis was at least two yards offside when Linas Klimavicius headed Joe Hart’s clearance beyond the England backline, but the flag stayed down and the Lithuanian striker was able to nod the ball towards an open goal. Thankfully, for the hosts, his effort lacked power, and a back-tracking John Stones was able to hack clear.

Stones partnered Michael Keane at the heart of the back four, with Southgate abandoning the three centre-half formation he had trialled in Dortmund.

That meant Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson found himself on the bench after his maiden call-up on Friday morning, but with Gary Cahill coming towards the end of his England career and both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones constantly suffering injuries, the Teessider stands on the verge of becoming an international regular. Perhaps June’s friendly in France will witness his first cap.

Having survived their scare at the end of the first half, England spent the second 45 minutes looking to add to their lead. That they only managed to claim one more goal reflected both their attacking failings and Lithuania’s continued doggedness.

Sterling should have converted Ryan Bertrand’s cross at the start of the second half, but while Setkus was forced to produce a decent save to deny Oxlade-Chamberlain after he shot from 22 yards, the hosts’ lack of success in front of goal was highlighted by Southgate’s desire to change things before the hour mark.

Defoe and Sterling made way for Vardy and Marcus Rashford, and within seven minutes, the switch paid dividends. Lallana produced a fabulous flick to nudge Kyle Walker into Vardy’s path, and the Leicester striker did the rest, slotting home a crisp finish.