It was a good night for Lukaku on the occasion of his 99th Red Devils appearance, as he netted either side of half-time to put his nation 2-1 and then 3-1 up against Estonia, who had taken a shock lead in just the second minute.

Both Lukaku’s goals displayed his capability on the turn, with his first a well-placed left-footed effort and his second on his right having held off his man. Belgium won 5-2 in the end, with Lukaku playing 74 minutes and Michy Batshuayi remaining unused.

In Liechtenstein, Werner opened the scoring for Germany shortly before half-time with a superb finish, taking a pass and clinically finishing.

Germany had chances to increase their lead but had to settle for a 2-0 win with Leroy Sane netting the second. Kai Havertz played an hour while Toni Rudiger was an unused sub. Germany are now a point behind Armenia in qualifying.

England made light work of Hungary in a hostile atmosphere in Budapest, with Mount cutely setting up Raheem Sterling’s opener 10 minutes into the second half. Our midfielder came off with six minutes left, by which time the Three Lions were 3-0 up courtesy of goals from Harrys Kane and Maguire.

Declan Rice completed the scoring from long range late on, the home side’s keeper at fault not for the first time. England remain top of Group I with maximum points from their four games ahead of fixtures against Andorra and Poland.

The shock of the night was in Florence where Euro 2020 winners Italy were held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria. Federico Chiesa’s opener was cancelled out before the break and despite the Italians laying siege to the visitors’ goal, it remained all square. Jorginho played the full game while Emerson was taken off in injury time.

The only defeat suffered by a Chelsea player tonight was in Stockholm where Spain were beaten 2-1 by Sweden. Cesar Azpilicueta was at right-back as Carlos Soler’s early opener was quickly cancelled out, with the Swedes netting the winner early in the second half. Spain’s many attempts to equalise proved in vain, so Sweden jump above them in Group B.

Earlier on Thursday, England’s Under-19s beat Italy 2-0, with Jude Soonsup-Bell netting England’s second goal. Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Harvey Vale both started.