England [Images] ground out a 3-1 victory over Hungary in a World Cup warm-up on Tuesday, with teenage striker Theo Walcott making history for the hosts.

Early second-half headers from Steven Gerrard and John Terry put England in front after Frank Lampard's [Images] penalty was saved in the closing stages of the first period at Old Trafford.

Hungary captain Pal Dardai pulled a goal back with a superb 25-metre shot in the 55th minute before substitute Peter Crouch rifled home England's third in the 83rd.

It was a special night for Walcott, who came on as a second-half substitute to become England's youngest player at 17 years and 75 days.

Striker Wayne Rooney [Images], whose foot injury sent shockwaves through England's World Cup preparations, set the previous record at 17 years and 111 days.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson used the match to try out midfielder Gerrard in an advanced role behind striker Michael Owen [Images], as a possible replacement for Rooney.

Gerrard's usual position went to central defender Jamie Carragher, pushed forward into a holding midfield role in the evening's other experiment.

Rooney's hopes of going to the World Cup hinge on a scan he will undergo on his broken right foot on June 7. Under FIFA rules, Eriksson can replace him in the squad up to 24 hours before the opening game against Paraguay on June 10.

Gerrard was pushed into Rooney's role because of his goal sense, underlined by his two strikes in Liverpool's FA Cup final triumph over West Ham United earlier this month.

CLOSING MINUTES

It was not an instant success.

England lacked penetration against well-organised opponents in a dour opening half which only burst into life in the closing minutes.

Owen, short of match fitness after a long-term injury, missed a close-range header from a superb cross from the right by captain David Beckham [Images].

Gerrard then won a dubious penalty after a rash challenge by defender Csaba Feher but Lampard's poor spot-kick was parried by goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly and Owen's follow-up header hit the bar.

There was still time for England to strike the woodwork again when Joe Cole's glancing header from a Beckham cross struck the post and was cleared by Laszlo Eger.

It looked as if it was not going to be Eriksson's night until his men made a dream start to the second half.

Gerrard nodded in a good cross from Beckham before Terry did the same from another free kick by the England captain.

Dardai pulled Hungary back into the game when a superb curling shot beat keeper Paul Robinson, while Eriksson sent on Walcott and Crouch before later replacing Terry with Sol Campbell.

Crouch, another candidate for Rooney's place, fired home on the turn after a mazy run and pass by Joe Cole.

England open their World Cup campaign in Group B against Paraguay before going on to face Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden.

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