Ecuador 2-2 England: Five Things We Learned

A second-string England side struggled to contain Ecuador in a 2-2 draw in Miami as both sides were reduced to ten men following the sendings-off of Raheem Sterling and Antonia Valencia.

Roy Hodgson made ten changes to the team that started five days previously against Peru at Wembley.

Wayne Rooney was given another opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup after struggling to make an impact last week.

But the experimental side failed to deliver in Miami's half-empty Sun Life stadium and the England manager has just 90 minutes left on Saturday, when his side take on tournament minows Honduras, to field his strongest 11 before facing Italy in the first Group D qualifier.

Here are five things Hodgson will be contemplating:

Should Raheem Sterling start against Italy?

Introduced as substitute, Raheem Sterling soon headed back towards the England bench after he was shown a red card for a rash challenge on Antonio Valencia. But during a 20-minute cameo Sterling again showed why he is rated so highly at Anfield and why he should start for England if Hodgson hopes to take all three points against Italy.

How will England cope with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury?

Like Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain has the one attribute defenders most fear: pace. The Arsenal man also showed strength and a confidence that belied his dearth of club appearances last season. Hodgson will hope his 63rd-minute knee injury is not as serious as his buckling suggested it could be.

Should Wayne Rooney start as number 10?

But he could play out on the left. Much of the talk building up to Wednesday's friendly focused on Wayne Rooney being shunted out onto the wing, a position where Sir Alex Ferguson often deployed him. But if the Manchester United striker feels out of sorts in that position he did not let it show, sealing a positive performance with a close-range goal, his 39th for his country.

Should Ross Barkley be England's super-sub?

In any other team, at any other tournament, Ross Barkley would be one of the first names on a manger's teamsheet. But this is England we are talking about and under Hodgson it is most likely the 20-year-old Everton midfielder will be sprung onto opposition teams from behind his manager's head on the substitutes bench and not behind England's strike force, where many would prefer.

*Note to self: don't tinker with defence

The defensive pairing of Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka might not be water-tight, but compared to Chris Smalling and Phil Jones they are HMS Illustrious. The United pair looked uncomfortable at England's rearguard and even though Luke Shaw bears responsibility for losing Enner Valencia for the South American's first goal, Hodgson would be wise to wrap his starting back line in cotton wool.