Gerrard is left with a struggle as Rooney fills the hole

The Wayne Rooney-Steven Gerrard double act may not have dominated centre stage quite so spectacularly this time but there is no doubt that this partnership will provide Fabio Capello with England's creative impetus in the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Rooney bristled with energy and purpose at Wembley last night while Gerrard struggled to make a lasting impact against a Ukrainian team that coped with England's Scouse threat far more efficiently than Slovakia.

What Capello will have realised last night is that Rooney and Gerrard guarantee 100 per cent commitment wherever he plays them in his team.

Neither complains about playing out of their specialist positions and their determination to make Capello's attacking line-up work is an inspiration to those around them.

Gerrard, who has looked one of the best players in the world in a Liverpool shirt this season, is probably at his most effective playing a free role behind the striker - but that is now Rooney's starting position in the England team.

Capello (right) has solved some of the imbalances in a midfield that has been without a naturally left-footed player for years by allowing them to share responsibilities on the flank and switch positions during the game - a move that in itself creates problems for opposing defences.

Few of Capello's England predecessors ever got to grips with the problems involved in accommodating the highly-talented, creative attacking players who really require the freedom to roam across the pitch.

Players like Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle and even Paul Scholes in recent years were rarely given the team framework within which they could exploit their full potential.

Last night's Rooney-Gerrard axis didn't produce football of the same quality as in the 4-0 win over Slovakia - and there was another example of the Manchester United man's aggression with his reckless tackle on Oleksandr Aliyev, even though the referee said he won the ball.

But they will still be the first names on the team sheet and Capello knows that both need to get close to peak form if England are to launch a realistic challenge in South Africa next year.