KING HENRI SINKS BELGIUM

THEY came hoping to see an Arsenal youngster conjure up a virtuoso performance and they got their wish. But rather than the much-vaunted Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, it was Henri Lansbury — on loan at West Ham but still very much in the thoughts of manager Arsene Wenger — who dazzled a crowd of 22,647 at Middlesbrough last night. Though OxladeChamberlain won and converted an injurytime penalty, Lansbury provided the inspiration as England’s Under 21s eased to a 4-0 win over Belgium, a success that has effectively secured them a spot in the play-offs for Euro 2013. Full of imagination and invention, the highlight of Lansbury’s impudent display was the outrageous 35-yard effort he smashed in after nine minutes. ‘Henri said he meant it but I’m not so sure,’ said Brian Eastick, deputising in the absence of head coach Stuart Pearce. ‘He hhad a smile on his face when he told me.’ The Riverside Stadium hhas been kind to the Young Lions down the years and their record heading into this contest was five wins from as many games. And once Lansbury (below) opened the scoring, England’s unblemished record was never in doubt. He caught the eye continually and his corner led to England extending their lead when Steven Caulker powered in a header from six yards, reacting first to a flickon from his defensive partner Craig Dawson. Lansbury doubled his tally on 53 minutes, when he converted a cutback from debutant Wilfried Zaha, and Oxlade-chamberlain completed the rout in added time. England need four points from their last two games to secure top spot in Group 8. ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Butland; Kelly, Caulker, Dawson, Rose; Henderson, Mceachran; OxladeChamberlain, Lansbury (Gardner 73min), Zaha (Shelvey 68); Sordell

(Keane 82).