The storm clouds that had erupted over St James' Park had left by the time the final whistle blew on England's 3-0 win over Ukraine last night and, if Sven-Goran Eriksson is willing to put his trust in youth, the brooding currents that have dogged his reign as national coach could disappear just as quickly.

David Beckham, Michael Owen and Shaun-Wright Phillips ensured Eriksson's first game since Euro 2004 would finish with a win, but the Swede will have left the North-East with as many questions as answers ahead of next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Eriksson was roundly castigated for his inability to make positive substitutions as England crashed out of the European Championships, but his willingness to bring on the likes of Wright-Phillips and Jermain Defoe last night dispelled the lethargy that had enveloped his side in the first half.

The slow tempo that had characterised England's display against Portugal disappeared as Wright-Phillips crowned his international debut with a dream strike and Defoe offered the kind of impudent trickery that was so badly lacking in Lisbon's Stadium of Light in June.

Clearly Eriksson can change things round, but those alterations were forced on him by the involvement of Liverpool and Manchester United in the Champions League, and the general trend for half-time tinkering during friendlies.

It will be interesting to see if he is as bold when England take on Austria and Poland at the start of next month. After swapping his girlfriend for a younger model last month, will Eriksson also trade in some of his elder statesmen for a more youthful alternative?

And will he stick with a system that his players know?

A Beckham-led revolt had seen Eriksson ditch his much-criticised diamond formation in the wake of June's Euro 2004 defeat to France but, back on home soil, the Swede reverted to his tactic of choice.

The England boss has always maintained that the diamond formation gives his side greater solidity, with at least one player on hand to protect the back four.

But that defensive strength was nowhere to be seen in the opening four minutes as Ukraine twice threatened through midfielders breaking from the gaping hole at the heart of England's midfield.

Andriy Vorobyey was allowed to run almost 40 yards before drilling a left-footed shot well over, before wing-back Oleh Husyev made a similar surge that ended in David James spilling his innocuous strike.

The freedom enjoyed by the Ukrainian midfield stood in stark contrast to the disjointed early efforts of an England side struggling to come to terms with the rigidity of a system rarely used on the club stage.

Indeed it was telling that their first meaningful break came when Steven Gerrard came off his flank to release Owen, only for Real Madrid's latest galactico to be unceremoniously hauled to the ground by Andriy Rusol.

Almost all of Gerrard's most effective moments came when he strayed inside.

On the right, Beckham delivered a 12th-minute cross that ended in Alan Smith sending an acrobatic overhead kick well wide.

With Ukraine in the ascendancy, much of the home side's early play lacked an element of surprise, with Frank Lampard struggling to burst beyond the front two.

The Chelsea midfielder went close in the 22nd minute, hitting a dipping half-volley straight at goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovsky, but it was his team-mate John Terry that unwittingly provided the spark of inspiration England were looking for shortly before the half-hour mark.

Terry slung over the ball from the right touchline after strolling confidently out of defence and, while his scuffed cross was never going to trouble Shovkovsky, the Ukrainian keeper only succeeded in palming it into an onrushing Beckham, who duly bundled the ball into the net.

Half-time brought just three changes to the England line-up, but it was difficult not to notice the substitutions as St James' Park delivered its verdict on Kieron Dyer.

The Newcastle midfielder was roundly booed onto the field following last week's alleged bust-up with Sir Bobby Robson, and continued to be barracked from the stands throughout much of the second half.

The jeers quickly turned to cheers five minutes into the second half though, as England doubled their lead thanks to the new Spanish axis of Beckham and Owen.

The England captain had looked lethargic and leg-weary during the summer but, after shedding emotional and physical baggage, he was back to something approaching his dynamic best last night.

He drove his side forward throughout the second half, and delivered the pinpoint cross that allowed Owen to head home his 27th international goal from close range.

England were now firmly in the driving seat, and Defoe wasted a golden chance to open his international account on the hour mark.

The Tottenham striker had time and space on the edge of the six-yard box after Dyer had dummied Wright-Phillips' cross, but only succeeded in dragging his shot wide of the target.

Wright-Phillips showed him how to complete the job in the 72nd minute, as he extended England's lead with in flamboyant fashion.

The Manchester City midfielder still had plenty to do when he picked up the ball on the right, but he powered his into the box before unleashing a fierce drive that flashed across Shovkovsky and into the far corner of the net.

The Ukrainian keeper parried Defoe's strike as the home side went close to adding a fourth, but England's young guns had already done enough to plant some serious questions in Eriksson's mind.

Result: England 3 Ukraine 0.