Rooney ends drought in England romp

The Manchester United striker netted a meaningful goal for the first time since Euro 2004 with Shaun Wright-Phillips' opener and an own goal from Taavi Rahn settling the issue in the opening 45 minutes.

England now need to win in Russia on Wednesday to secure qualification but they look likely to be without Ashley Cole who was stretchered off with an ankle injury early in the second period.

It is difficult to see how Cole could possibly be fit for the crucial trip to Moscow, leaving McClaren with a tricky selection dilemma to ponder for a game which could see England confirm their place in Austria and Switzerland next summer a month ahead of schedule.

A scorer against Israel at Wembley last month, Wright-Phillips broke the deadlock early on when he surged into the box and let fly from an acute angle more in hope than expectation. Inexplicably, his shot flew straight between Mart Poom's legs and into the Estonia net. With just 11 minutes on the clock, it was effectively game over.

But, while the result may not have been in doubt, there were still a few issues to resolve, not least Rooney's need to get his name on the scoresheet.

Rooney landed one audacious chip onto the roof of Poom's net before he eventually broke his duck, turning effortlessly onto Joe Cole's low cross and unleashing a powerful shot that flicked off Raio Piiroja and nestled neatly in the corner.

Within a minute, England had a third, a most bizarre own-goal from Andrei Stepanov, who stuck out his neck out to intercept Ashley Cole's cross and from fully 20 yards beat Poom with firm header Alan Shearer would have been proud of.

With the points in the bag McClaren had the luxury of bringing Frank Lampard off the bench in the latter stages but by that stage an easy victory was assured.