Ollie Watkins is enjoying his role as England’s Super Sub – but at some point there has to be an effort to move away from these slow and ponderous starts, writes CRAIG HOPE

This was a tough watch, England dominating possession but not the opposition. At least, that was, until the arrival of Ollie Watkins and Noni Madueke.

Instantly, there was pace, incision and surprise. England looked like scoring every time they attacked and, with Watkins and Madueke on the field for just 15 minutes, they scored twice. Those goals were the difference in a 3-1 win here in Finland.

Why, then, are England seemingly incapable of starting games with such intent? Again in Helsinki it was too slow, ponderous and a lot of it pointless. Anthony Gordon did not attempt to disguise his feelings in the summer when claiming that the team, without him in it, were too predictable. He was right.

Lee Carsley sought to address that during his first game against Republic of Ireland and, for an hour of the 2-0 victory, it was fast and on the front foot. Since then, much of the same. Thursday’s tactical debacle during the 2-1 defeat by Greece was so confused that the players were struck by footballing paralysis.

Watkins was a little more diplomatic than Gordon, but those on the bench will surely see what the rest of us do. Harry Kane was again too static and, too often of late, it feels as if he is another brick in the defensive wall rather than a forward trying to scale it.

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke also had an impressive cameo against Finland on Sunday 

The returning Harry Kane did not have much joy during the clash and struggled to get involved in the game

‘When I came on, I tried to provide some energy and bring a lift to the game, something different,’ said Watkins. Note his use of ‘energy’, ’lift’ and ‘different’.

He added: ‘There was a lot of space opened up. When I look and I’ve got Phil (Foden) at No.10, or Jude (Bellingham), I know that I just need to wait for an opportunity. I don’t need to get involved too much, I just need to wait for them to get the ball, and then pick my moment and run, if I see the opportunity to go in behind. 

‘That’s my game. I can be patient and wait for that. Like we saw in the Euros (winner against Holland) – when Cole (Palmer) got the ball I knew when to run. That’s all I need, there are so many good players around me.’

Does he bring something different to Kane? ‘That’s not my place to say,’ said Watkins.

He created Bellingham’s goal against Greece and laid on the third for Declan Rice on Sunday. Sensing the tone of the conversation – why not use his pace from the off? – the Aston Villa striker did offer some perspective in defence of those picked ahead of him.

‘Some games, it’s actually more enjoyable to come on the pitch when the game is a little bit more open and the defence is more tired, and there is space for me to run in behind,’ he said.

The Aston Villa star man assisted England’s third goal to add to his assist in the 2-1 defeat by Greece

’Sometimes people don’t realise how difficult it is from the start, especially coming away to places like this when they have every man behind the ball and make it difficult. Let us not under-estimate that. But also, every player does want to start. But it’s the manager’s decision. It’s one you have to accept.’

Maybe Watkins is best served as an impact substitute. Surely, though, there has to be an effort to move away from the tedium that has come to characterise England. For all of their wonderful players, a wonderful watch they most certainly are not.