Owen Hargreaves expressed his relief today at finally starting an England international and insisted that his midfield partnership with Gareth Barry was a success.

Hargreaves was drafted into the team when Frank Lampard was taken ill and played the full 90 minutes for the first time since last March's 3-0 win over Andorra.

The 27-year old said: "It was great to play for England again, it has been a while really. It has been a bit stop-start for me this season, not only with Man United but with England as well, so it was nice to get back in and to play 90 minutes again.

"I thought we [me and Barry] were quite comfortable in the first half and unlucky to concede. We played some good football in the opening 45 minutes and possibly could have created a few more chances. Overall, I thought we were unlucky."