England 3, Israel 0.

ONE down, four to go. How Steve McClaren must be hoping that the rest of England's crucial European Championships qualifiers are as facile and trouble-free as this.

A year and six days after his side last tasted success on home soil, McClaren was able to savour England's best competitive performance since he replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson. For the former Middlesbrough manager, however, just as for his players, the real work is about to begin.

Russia, currently one point above England in the Group E table, visit Wembley on Wednesday night for a game that could well determine the identity of Croatia's partners at next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Given that Russia have only conceded one goal in their eight previous qualifiers, England's players are about to receive a far stiffer test than was offered by an insipid Israel side on Saturday.

And given McClaren's patched-up England outfit performed so impressively at the weekend, the embattled national coach is about to receive a stern examination of his own credentials.

Unlike his predecessor, Eriksson, will he be strong enough to ignore a player's status and select a side who have furthered their claims on the pitch? Or, with the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch all hoping to be available for Wednesday's game, will he prioritise reputation over results?

"I might not be able to leave anyone out after a performance like that," said McClaren in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's success. "I expected a tough game, but our players made Israel look ordinary.

"The headache I've got is whether to leave any of this team out because players have come in and looked comfortable in their positions."

Wise words, but the crucial question now, of course, is whether McClaren possesses the nerve needed to carry them into fruition.

Shorn of five senior players who would otherwise have been an automatic choice, the England boss effectively pursued a policy of survival of the fittest as he selected his side for last weekend's game. The results, perhaps through luck, perhaps through judgement, were startling.

Micah Richards, replacing long-term absentee Gary Neville, provided the energy and thrust that has long been lacking in England's right-back berth. As if his overlapping runs were not eye-catching enough, the emphatic headed finish that provided his maiden international goal midway through the second half was an impressive statement of intent.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, scorer of England's opener with a deft first-time finish following Joe Cole's floated cross, was equally impressive, committing Israel's defenders with a series of purposeful runs.

Gareth Barry, making his first competitive appearance for seven years, was a revelation at the heart of midfield. Instead of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard repeatedly getting in each other's way, Barry's tendency to pull towards his preferred left flank provided a balance that had proved elusive in the past. His ability to pass the ball to a team-mate's feet also provided an immediate contrast with a number of his predecessors.

And even the much-maligned Emile Heskey, back in the international fold after a three-year exile, was a worthy inclusion as his power and physique unsettled an Israeli backline that included Chelsea centre-half Tal Ben Haim.

"There will be bigger tests ahead, but they showed what they can do," said McClaren. "Gareth Barry has the quality and showed he can handle the stage and big occasion.

"Emile Heskey came in and did what we expected him to do. No one likes playing against him. And Shaun Wright-Phillips continued the early-season form he has shown at Chelsea. I'm sure Russia will watch that performance on video and not relish coming to Wembley."

Were they also to watch a tape of last month's friendly defeat to Germany, however, they would surely be hoping that some of Saturday's match-winners were consigned to the substitutes' bench on Wednesday.

For it wasn't just England's ability that caught the eye in a win that could have been even more emphatic, it was their intensity and drive that ultimately proved too much for Israel to match.

For once, this was an England side playing as though their lives depended on it, and while the extent of their subsequent supremacy should be balanced against the paucity of the opposition, it is tempting to contrast the wide-eyed commitment of Richards and Barry with the arrogance that seems to have afflicted some of their more exalted colleagues.

True, Wright-Phillips' opener came at a crucial time and prevented any need for panic in the face of an Israeli rearguard action that repeatedly saw Dror Kashtan's side pulling all ten outfield players behind the ball.

But with their opponents still refusing to commit men forward throughout the second half, England's patience as they continued to probe for an opening remained commendable. Not quite as commendable, though, as the quality of Michael Owen's finishing. When the Newcastle striker wasted a decent opportunity by blasting straight at goalkeeper Dudu Aouate's midriff shortly before half-time, it was impossible not to put his profligacy down to an inevitable rustiness.

Four minutes after the break, though, it was equally impossible to deny he was back to his best. Picking up Barry's through ball on the edge of the 18-yard box, Owen swivelled neatly before blasting his 38th international goal into the corner of the net.

It was the first time he had scored for England from outside the area since he produced a long-range finish against Luxembourg in 1999, and it made it three goals in three games.

"If Michael is fit he will score goals," said McClaren. "He has lots of games ahead of him and I'd like to see him get that all-time scoring record.

"He's a goalscorer, simple as that. Over the last few weeks there has been criticism and pressure placed on him. But it is typical of Michael that he answers it with three goals in three games.

"He's had a bad injury, but you can tell by the way he's worked and gone about his job that he will get back to his best quicker than most."

On Saturday, Owen's return to peak performance mirrored an overall improvement from England. On Wednesday, however, McClaren's next move will go a long way towards determining whether or not those standards are maintained against Russia.