While Liverpool's win put pressure on the Premier League's top four, Villa's miserable record in front of goal showed no signs of improving and the pressure on boss Paul Lambert continues to mount.

Lambert's fledgling England career, which has seen him score in each of his first two appearances, will come up against the grit of a Ukraine defence which has only conceded four goals in seven games to leave them a point behind England and Montenegro, who have played a game more.

England moved to the top of European qualifying Group H on goal difference above Montenegro after sweeping past Ion Caras's side at Wembley on Friday, but victory came at a price.

England have four games remaining in their bid to reach next year's World Cup in Brazil, playing away to Ukraine on Tuesday before home games against Montenegro and Poland next month.

Rejected by Liverpool as a youngster and then released by Blackpool in 2000 aged 18, Rickie Lambert was forced to work in a factory putting lids on jars of beetroot while he tried to keep his football career alive by training with minnows Macclesfield.

Wayne Rooney showed plenty of signs of rust in an erratic display, but his shoulder didn't look to be troubling him and Moyes, working as a television pundit, said he was happy to see the striker back in action.

The build-up to the England versus Scotland game has been dominated by speculation about the Manchester United striker, whose club manager David Moyes lost his patience when quizzed about Rooney's future by reporters after Sunday's Community Shield.

The Manchester United forward pulled out of the August 14 match after failing to recover in time from an ankle injury

Lambert's rise to international recognition is a remarkable tale after a career spent at the likes of Macclesfield Town, Stockport County and Rochdale. Last season was his first in the Premier League following a career that began at Blackpool in 1998 in the old second division, now called League One, the third tier of English football.

While Rooney is looking to make his 84th England appearance at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday against Scotland, Southampton striker Rickie Lambert has been called up for the first time.