The Al-Ettifaq midfielder was a passenger throughout the first half and he must surely be dropped as England gear up for Euro 2024.

While Malta had the first shot in anger, it was England who opened the scoring, as Phil Foden sprinted down the right flank, cut the ball back, and saw defender Enrico Pepe and goalkeeper Henry Bonello somehow conspire to send it into the back of their own net.

The Three Lions should have had a penalty around the half-hour mark, as Harry Kane was brought down by Bonello in the area, but the referee inexplicably booked the Bayern Munich striker for a dive. VAR, amazingly, did not intervene.

England struggled to break Malta down thereafter in what was a dismal display but just after the 70 minute mark, Kane did get his goal, as he tapped home Bukayo Saka's smart cut-back off the back of a fine team move.

And minutes later, Declan Rice drove forward and smashed a curling effort into the far corner, although his strike was ruled out by VAR due to an offside.

GOAL rates England's players from Wembley…

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Jordan Pickford (6/10):

Scrambled across his goal early on when Malta had a shot whistle by the post in the first 30 seconds. Didn't have anything to do thereafter.

Kieran Trippier (5/10):

Started on the right but moved to the left when Tomori was subbed. Not as involved as he would have liked, and offered very little going forward.

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Some nervy moments early on but settled into the game and even drove into Malta's penalty area. Fine defensively, throughout.

Marc Guehi (6/10):

Never really troubled throughout and passed the ball well. A composed performance.

Fikayo Tomori (5/10):

Took a couple of knocks early on and retaliated, leading to a booking. Lasted 45 minutes before his substitution and just never looked comfortable at left-back.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

Targeted by Malta for some heavy-handed tackling early on, but operated as a deep-lying playmaker, spraying passes around from midfield.

Conor Gallagher (5/10):

Busy in the first-half but he didn't carry the ball forward enough. Substituted at half-time. Not exactly the kind of performance to ensure he's a starter moving forward.

Jordan Henderson (2/10):

It remains baffling that Henderson is playing for England. He offered precious little on the ball, and was caught out of position by Malta's midfield more than once. Dreadful.

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Phil Foden (7/10):

Played the ball that led to Malta's own goal, and had a superb run beforehand. So positive whenever he receives the ball, playing with his head up. Comfortably England's best player.

Harry Kane (6/10):

Somehow booked for diving after being clattered by the goalkeeper in the penalty area. Faded into the background until the 70th minute, when he tapped in England's second goal.

Marcus Rashford (5/10):

Found himself in excellent positions continually but looks bereft of confidence. Took a sore one when running into Alexander-Arnold and was subbed.

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Kyle Walker (6/10):

On at half-time to inject some pace. Visibly annoyed at the pace England were playing at, and tried to add some dynamism into the final third, running at the defence whenever he could.

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

On at half-time and provided the assist for Kane's goal.

Cole Palmer (6/10):

Replaced Rashford and made his England bow in the process. Didn't get a lot of the ball but did offer one mazy run late on. A proud night for the Chelsea ace.

Declan Rice (6/10):

On for Henderson. Thought he had scored a superb goal but Kane being offside when he struck it meant it was ruled out. England's midfield improved almost as soon as he came on.

Gareth Southgate (4/10):

This was nearly embarrassing. England were so bad for over an hour that Malta would have deserved a goal, and his team selections remain baffling, even without a few key players. With Euro 2024 looming, his team must improve.