Richard Sutcliffe: Capello needs to stick to his guns with fresh faces

Two games, six points and Fabio Capello's reputation, if not fully restored, is at least partly restored following its battering at the World Cup.

A four-goal winning margin may have slightly flattered England against Bulgaria at Wembley last Friday, not least as it took an excellent performance from Joe Hart to keep the visitors at bay during a rocky half-hour either side of half-time.

But there was little doubt the three points were deserved, just as they were on Tuesday night as a Switzerland side who had beaten eventual champions Spain in South Africa during the summer were made to look distinctly ordinary.

The manner of the performance was hugely encouraging, especially in the first half when the Swiss were penned back by an English side able to pick holes in a defence that had previously been highly regarded after conceding just once in three World Cup group games.

What made Tuesday even more pleasing, though, from a Three Lions perspective, was how quickly the new(ish) faces seem to have adapted to international football.

Following the second round exit to Germany in the summer, Capello had pledged to give youth a chance.

The words captured the mood of a country who had tired of seeing the so-called 'Golden Generation' fail to deliver at a host of tournaments.

Three months on, however, the starting line-up against Bulgaria was more a case of evolution than revolution with only injuries to John Terry and Frank Lampard preventing the likelihood of the Italian naming nine of the 10 outfield players who had performed so lamely against the Germans.

He did, though, bring in Hart – a move that was rewarded with a fine display from the Manchester City goalkeeper who earned England only their fourth clean sheet in 14 games.

It meant the squad travelled to Switzerland in good spirits, even allowing for the weekend allegations that surfaced about Wayne Rooney's private life.

That was evident once Tuesday night's game got underway in the Basle rain as England produced their best performance since Croatia crashed 5-1 at Wembley a year ago today.

Not only did employing Rooney in a role behind Jermain Defoe work well again, but the midfield looked lively and the back four polished.

Only Hart, in fact, could be said to have been below-par after making some rather uncharacteristic flaps during the second half.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of all was how well the players whose tally of caps could be counted in single figures before Tuesday night fared.

Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka – with nine and five appearances under their belts respectively – linked up impressively at the back, while Darren Bent showed Capello why he should have taken the Sunderland striker to the World Cup with a fine finish for the third goal.

Perhaps the biggest winner from the past seven days, though, has been Adam Johnson.

Not only were his two goals of the highest quality and strikes born of confidence, particularly his effort against the Swiss as he ghosted past goalkeeper Diego Benaglio courtesy of a delightful shimmy.

But the former Middlesbrough man's ability to look at home on either flank despite being predominantly left-footed has the potential to become a vital part of England's attacking armoury.

Capello certainly seemed impressed, commenting: "He is a big talent. He is fast. Technically, he is really good and is a very dangerous player when he gets near the box because he shoots so well."

Such words make it even harder to understand why Johnson was left at home last summer, especially as erratic clubmate Shaun Wright-Phillips made the plane.

But that would be looking back and not forward, the latter something that the country must now do if the encouraging past few days are to be built on.

The only blots on an otherwise fine night for England in Basle were the ninth-minute injury to Theo Walcott and James Milner collecting a second booking in as many games, meaning the former Leeds United midfielder must sit out next month's qualifier at home to Montenegro.

A fit-again Lampard may seem a ready-made replacement, though it is to be hoped Capello resists the temptation as surely the only way to accommodate the Chelsea man would be to move Steven Gerrard to the flank – a position that the summer showed us singularly fails to bring the best out of the Liverpudlian.

Likewise, should both Terry and Rio Ferdinand be available again it is to be hoped former Sheffield United defender Jagielka, described by Capello as England's defensive "driver" this week, retains his place in the centre of defence.

If he does not, and Lampard also returns in place of Milner, it would send out entirely the wrong message.

Namely, England choosing to ignore the new to go back to the past.