Andros Townsend: Spurs’ high-flyer becomes Hodgson’s defiant call-card to answer the critics

Until that point England were swarming over Montenegro, thrusting forwards in waves of white shirts and it was refreshing to see Hodgson’s men play with such abandon. The second however seemed to wake the away side up, Stevan Jovetic cracking Joe Hart’s cross-bar with a long-range drive before Dejan Damjanovic halved the deficit after a rare Montenegrin foray into England’s half.

If Wembley became a little edgy and tetchy at Damjanovic’s goal, fearing a dramatic capitulation, those nerves were allayed by Townsend who seized his moment seven minutes later. Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, he scuttled forwards conscious of the run of Daniel Sturridge to the right of him only to ignore him completely, instead thrashing a low shot past Poleksic courtesy of the post.

In an instant, Townsend had become the embodiment of Hodgson’s new-found endorsement of freedom and exuberance, taking advantage of the licence to act on impulse and the buzz created by his overspilling confidence. As the Spurs winger slid on his knees on the Wembley turf, Hodgson would be forgiven to raising a finger or two to the likes of Lineker who had previously been vociferous in their criticism of Hodgson’s penchant for the utilitarian.

There was still time for Sturridge to round the win off with a penalty, but the night well and truly belonged to Townsend. A willing runner throughout, direct, nimble and bristling with imagination and desire, it would be no surprise if his marker, Milan Jovanovic, was still being untangled as he left Wembley, thankful that his night of torture would only last 90 minutes.

It was the birth of what promises to be a very bright international career, a spawn of neo-Hodgson, the manager immediately turning his focus to Tuesday night and Poland with adventure and a liberal approach now running through his veins.

As this week the FA troubled itself with the situation of Adnan Januzaj’s possible future eligibility, it was a 22 year old Spurs winger who took it upon himself to annul all debate. He is not needed, not with Andros Townsend ready to take flight.

Written by Adam Gray

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