After giving us the first taste of life under his reign, new England manager Roy Hodgson provided some insight into what will follow.

It was not just his Euro-vision but beyond; his view not only on how the England team will take shape in the short term under his guidance but how it will develop, too.

As he held court in a corridor at the Ullevaal Stadium, what Hodgson was saying made an awful lot of sense. Key to everything, he said, was deploying Wayne Rooney in his best position — as the second striker, England’s No 10.

Main man: Ashley Young (centre) scored the only goal for England

He said he had already discussed as much with the Manchester United forward and that is now the Hodgson blueprint.

Even with Rooney suspended for the first two encounters of  England’s European Championship campaign, that will be the system. Ashley Young proved he can  perform the role in Rooney’s absence against Norway, securing a first win for Hodgson with his  ninth-minute goal, and he will do so until Rooney is available to return.

That might seem harsh on Young but if he continues to impress, Hodgson is sure to find a place for him on the flanks, most likely on the left where Stewart Downing struggled to make any real impact.

The plan, said Hodgson, is indeed to play two strikers against France on June 11, but it is also to play with less rigidity than his side displayed here.

This was a static 4-4-2 and Hodgson was the first to acknowledge the need to perform with more fluidity between the lines, something that is Rooney’s forte.

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