By Andrew McKenzie, BBC Sport At The Stadium of Light

They overcame the World Cup bronze medallists despite relatively below-par games from the big three of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen.

The huge plus point was undoubtedly 17-year-old wonderkid Wayne Rooney, who sparkled on his full England debut.

But Rooney was not the only positive to come out of a game that saw England jump to the top of Group Seven.

Four other players made good cases for future inclusion.

David James

James produced some important saves

For some observers James will always be associated with calamitous behaviour.

The West Ham keeper is still prone to the odd howler and he looked decidedly shaky on at least two occasions as Turkey pressed for their first ever goal against England.

But he also produced when it mattered - pulling off a magnificent acrobatic tip over the bar with eight minutes to go as England looked to hold on to their slender advantage.

David Seaman remains Eriksson's number one, but with age creeping up on the Arsenal keeper and no obvious successor, James did his chances no harm.

Wayne Bridge

Bridge was steady defensively and effective going forward

The Southampton full-back was probably only in the line-up because of the absence of injury victim Ashley Cole.

But Bridge had another steady game for England that suggests he could have a bright international future under Eriksson.

The 22-year-old was again solid at the back against tricky opposition and always eager to come forward and add to the attack.

Bridge added weight to the argument that he could be the answer to England's left-wing problem - in combination with Cole.

Nicky Butt

Butt made a strong case for regular inclusion

The Manchester United midfielder is hardly a newcomer to the international scene.

He earned his 27th England cap against Turkey but has struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up.

Despite Butt putting in some impressive performances in the World Cup finals Steven Gerrard and Scholes are generally regarded as England's first choice central midfielders.

However, Butt put a strong case for the inclusion of all three with a performance full of heart at the Stadium of Light.

Darius Vassell

Vassell weighed in with a vital goal

It was a case of good and bad news for the Aston Villa striker against Turkey.

The good news is he has almost certainly cemented his place in the squad and leapfrogged Emile Heskey with a lively half-hour display off the bench.

He added to his impressive goal tally for England - four in 11 appearances (compared to Heskey's four in 32) - and generally proved a handful for the Turkish defence with his pace and willingness to take people on.

Now for the bad news. He has probably seen the coming together of the first choice England frontline for the next decade in Rooney and Owen.