By Dan Warren BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Two games, two wins, nine goals scored, none conceded - on the face of it, new England boss Steve McClaren could not have begun his new job more impressively.

Crouch has scored 10 goals in 13 internationals

But, even after watching his side comfortably dispatch footballing minnows Andorra 5-0 in Manchester on Saturday, McClaren knows his side is yet to be truly tested.

In his first game, he was faced with a weak Greece side which competed only in the second half.

In his second, he was faced with an even weaker Andorra whose ambitions were limited to damage limitation - plus a nice sideline in theatrics which at least managed to fire the passions of the Old Trafford fans, given the absence of real competition.

The poor opposition is not, of course, McClaren's fault.

His first "competitive" match proved to be, in fact, a non-contest. And the ineffective opposition makes meaningful analysis rather difficult.

But the new England manager can still justifiably point to positives.

One big plus - in every sense - is giant striker Peter Crouch.

The Liverpool beanpole now has 10 goals in 13 international appearances - and four in his last two.

No-one is undroppable, but when he is scoring goals at the rate he is scoring, you need him in your side McClaren on Crouch

His record makes a mockery of those who said he was not international class - no-one now doubts Crouch's quality against all grades of opponent.

It seems incredible to think that he was booed by some England fans as recently as October 2005 in a World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Just 10 months later, his stock has risen immeasurably, leaving McClaren to admit that his side would be far weaker without him.

"No-one is undroppable, but when he is scoring goals at the rate he is scoring, you need him in your side," McClaren said after Saturday's win.

Crouch's form has justified former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's faith in him.

But equally, Jermain Defoe's performance makes the Swede's decision to omit him from the World Cup appear all the more inexplicable.

Hargreaves has helped add balance to England's midfield

Praise for his bright, energetic two-goal display against Andorra must be tempered by the quality, or lack of, in the opposition.

And Defoe will almost certainly make way when Wayne Rooney returns from suspension.

But he has surely made himself McClaren's number three striker - at least while Michael Owen remains injured.

In midfield, Owen Hargreaves seems to be battling with Crouch in terms of who has enjoyed the biggest revival in the eyes of England fans.

He twice hit the woodwork in search of his first England goal, but his display was not about grabbing goals.

His tireless running was a huge bonus for the home side, and one suspects that far better opposition than Andorra will find him a handful.

Hargreaves' unlikely transformation into an England hero has been even more rapid than that of Crouch.

And one thing that appears certain from McClaren's opening two matches, quality of opposition notwithstanding, is that he has a midfield with a much better balance than that of Eriksson.

So, on to Macedonia on Wednesday. And McClaren has warned of a "bigger test" ahead.

The fact that Macedonia lost 1-0 to Andorra in a World Cup qualifier in October 2004 does not suggest they will offer much more of a threat than Saturday's opposition.

But two years prior to that low, Macedonia grabbed a shock 2-2 draw in Southampton.

McClaren is still enjoying a great honeymoon period as England boss. He will not want Wednesday to prove to be his rude awakening.