New Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck was the hero for England when he struck twice to give the Three Lions a 2-0 win over Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifying match.

With first-choice forward Daniel Sturridge out injured, Welbeck was handed the task of leading England’s attack by coach Roy Hodgson in the Group F encounter in Basel and he did not disappoint.

The first half saw both sides be let down by their final ball though Haris Seferović came closest to scoring for the Swiss but his effort in the 33rd minute was kept out by Joe Hart with a leg.

England finished the half strong, with captain Wayne Rooney seeing an effort flapped for a cornerkick, from which Phil Jones saw a powerful header kept out by the Swiss goalkeeper as the first half ended goalless.

England came close to breaking the deadlock seven minutes into the second half when a Jordan Henderson cross was almost turned in by Valon Behrami.

Seferović tested Hart again just before the hour mark with a first-time shot which the Manchester City goalkeeper got a hand to keep out.

The save proved crucial as England broke to take the lead, with Raheem Sterling’s pass to the back post finding Welbeck who shinned the ball past Sommer.

The Swiss surged for an equaliser and substitute Josip Drmic came agonisingly close to doing so with 20 minutes to go, only for Gary Cahill to clear his effort off the line having rounded Hart.

Seferović then struck the bar soon after though was flagged offside while Gohkan Inler’s long range effort went just over the England goal with five minutes to go.

The result was however sealed for England in stoppage time when substitute Rickie Lambert set up Welbeck to slot in Switzerland’s bottom corner.

With the result, England is joint top of the group with Lithuania that came away from San Marino with a 2-0 win while Estonia edged Slovenia 1-0 in another Group E encounter.