Manchester United have been given a painful glimpse of what could have been if Erik ten Hag got dream signings

As though Jim Bowen was presenting a speed boat, Manchester United were given a sobering glimpse of what they could have won when England defeated Italy.

Gareth Southgate's side secured qualification for Euro 2024 on Tuesday night in emphatic fashion with a scintillating 3-1 victory at Wembley. Half of the Three Lions' wins over Italy in their history have come in 2023 and the confidence with which England came from behind against a top side should renew confidence ahead of next summer's tournament in Germany.

Especially given the wealth of attacking options England have to call upon. There remain shortages in the centre of defence and in defensive midfield, owing to the continued call-ups of Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson, but going forward there might not be a more well-stocked arsenal in international football.

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You only need to look at the talent on the bench to see how deep the reserves go: Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins; Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Ivan Toney weren't even in the squad.

But, of course, it's the players who were on the pitch who shone and earned all the plaudits. Namely Marcus Rahford, Harry Kane and the remarkable Jude Bellingham.

It was actually a sluggish start for England as they went behind early on and Bellingham was the only live wire in the side, moving across the pitch as if it was a freshly polished dance floor while the rest were trudging through treacle. It was little surprise when he was involved in the equaliser, being felled in the box after a sudden burst past a