Friendly: Denmark 1 England 2

England had to come from behind to overcome a determined Denmark 2-1 in their international friendly on Wednesday.

After a powerful Daniel Agger header gave the Danes the lead early on, England responded with goals from Aston Villa duo Darren Bent and Ashley Young to secure a hard-fought win in Copenhagen.

England boss Fabio Capello handed Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere his first international start, partnering him with Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard and James Milner in midfield with Wayne Rooney pushing forward behind Bent.

After a frenetic opening at Parken Stadion, it was the hosts who settled first, with Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner going close twice within the opening three minutes.

England responded with attacking intent of their own, as Bent pounced on to a slack back pass and forced a save from Thomas Sorensen, before Mathias Jorgensen blocked Rooney’s follow-up strike.

Morten Olsen’s side took the lead after eight minutes after 18-year-old starlet Christian Eriksen delivered a great cross that allowed Liverpool defenseman Agger to thunder a header past Joe Hart.

England were back on level terms two minutes later, when Walcott’s brilliant work on the right hand side allowed him to cross for Bent who slammed the ball home from close range.

Eriksen capitalised on some loose play from Lampard just after the half-hour mark to seize the ball in midfield before rifling a long-range shot that cannoned off the upright.

Lampard almost redeemed himself when he flicked a Walcott shot into the back of the net four minutes before the break, but the Chelsea midfielder was adjudged offside.

Capello made several changes at the break, with Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Young coming on in place of Lampard, Wilshere and Rooney.

The changes had the desired effect as England emerged from the interval the stronger, going close five minutes into the second period when Sorensen made a great save from Bent’s header after a cross from Young.

They took the lead on the hour mark when Young collected a pass from Johnson and fired home an inch-perfect shot past Sorensen.

Despite the best efforts of the hosts in the closing stages, England’s rearguard held firm to secure the win.