‘Maybe the contrast with David Beckham's inertia flattered Aaron Lennon, but there's no denying he looks a serious player for the future.' (Sunday Mirror)
Lennon shone for England B on May 25th, although the rest of the team, including Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas, seemed to lose its way after Jenas, one of three outfield players who went to the World Cup but didn't feature at all, had put the side ahead against Belarus.
Lennon won his first full cap in the final friendly before England headed to Germany, replacing Beckham once England were 5-0 up against Jamaica at Old Trafford.
Against Trinidad and Tobago, in an awful all round performance in Nuremberg was transformed with the introduction of Lennon on the right wing, as Beckham switched to right back. England's present number 7 and England's future number 7 combined for both goals.
Then against Portugal, Lennon again replaced Beckham (this time withdrawn through injury, early in the second half). He was at the heart of all England's best moves before being replaced with a minute of extra time remaining. Not before he'd set Joe Cole up with a great opportunity to score following an incredible run and pass that Rooney miss-kicked first of all. He was also denied a penalty (rightly so) after a challenge from Nuno Valente, that really could have changed the eventual outcome.