England’s Under-21s may have scored six goals in their European Championship qualifying match win against Azerbaijan but the introduction of Watford striker Marvin Sordell in the second half got the loudest cheer of the night.

Goals from Jordon Henderson, two from Craig Dawson, Martyn Waghon and a brace from former Watford loanee Henri Lansbury secured England a comfortable win.

But the Watford fans leaving Vicarage Road will be slightly disappointed their striker did not get on the score-sheet.

While Sordell had only been named on the bench former Hornet Lansbury was in a starting XI which included nine players who currently ply their trade in the Premier League.

England started brightly and created the first chance inside a minute. Lansbury received the ball just outside the box and played a pass through to Jordan Henderson who could only shoot wide.

The young lions took the lead inside the first five minutes. Lansbury again involved as his in-swinging corner was met by centre-back Craig Dawson who headed past keeper Osman Umarov to give England an early advantage.

Azerbaijan rarely threatened the England goal and it was the home side who created the next chance. Nathan Delfouneso cutting in well from the left flank before taking a shot which was deflected wide.

England doubled their lead midway through the first half thanks to a good finish from Lansbury.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found space down the right and chipped a cross into the visitor’s box. The ball was slightly behind the former Hornet but he adjusted well and hooked the ball into the bottom corner of Umarov’s goal. England were looking extremely comfortable and Lansbury and Connor Wickham both tried their luck from 20-yards only to find the fans in the Rookery stand.

Skipper Henderson then grabbed England’s third goal just before the break. After receiving the ball outside the Azerbaijan box the Liverpool midfielder had a quick look up before firing a curling effort into the top corner.

Azerbaijan made one change at half time as Eshgin Guluzade, who had been booked, was replaced by Javid Imamverdiyev.

England started the second period slowly and the visitors had their first real opportunity of the game when Oxlade-Chamberlain lost possession on the edge of his box.

Jihan Ozkara quickly stole the ball and sent a low drive which was well saved by Jason Butland.

The England stopper was again in action when a good free-kick was flicked on by Ozkara at the near post but Butland reacted quickly to bat the ball away.

Azerbaijan were much improved in early stages of the second period and were closing England down much higher up the pitch.

But the home side did come close to adding to their three goal lead when a Henderson cross found Oxlade-Chamberlain unmarked in the box but the Arsenal midfielder could only head wide.

The fans at Vicarage Road then rose to their feet as Sordell was introduced 22 minutes in to the second half, the Watford striker replacing Nathan Delfouneso.

It took only four minutes into his debut for the striker to come agonisingly close to opening his under-21 account.

A clever ball over the top from Lansbury left Sordell through on goal. He spotted Umarov coming off his line and lifted the ball over the keeper only to see it bounce just wide.

The introduction of Scordell had given England a lift and they managed to score a fourth goal through Lansbury. A cross into the box was not dealt with by Umarov and the ball fell to the midfielder who fired into an unguarded net.

Sordell again came close to bagging a goal at his home ground. He received the ball on the edge of the box, swivelled and sent a curling shot just over the bar.

England then added a fifth through substitute Martyn Waghorn, the striker smashing a ball from 25-yards into the net but Umarov should have done better.

A sixth was scored just before the ninety minutes. Man of the match Lansbury again the provider, crossing in for Dawson to net his second of the game.

England comfortably saw out the match to start the qualification campaign with a convincing win.

England: Butland; Flanagan, Caulker, Dawson, Briggs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Lansbury, Delfouneso, Wickham.

Substitutes: Amos, Bennett, Wisdom, Barkley, Shelvey, Sordell, Waghorn.

Azerbaijan: Umarov; Garayev, Guliyev, Guseynov, Mammadov, Seyidov, Abdullayev, Hasnov, Guliyev, Guluzade, Ozkara.

Substitutes: Aghayev, Mustafayev, Nurahmadov, Zaytsev, Ahmadov, Imamverdiyev, Isgandarov.

Attendance: 7,738.