Fraser Forster and Nathaniel Clyne were thrown into the very hottest heat of battle and emerged with their reputations enhanced.

The Saints duo were handed the chance to win just their third and second caps respectively as England travelled to Celtic Park to take on Scotland.

It was a white hot atmosphere and even a former Celtic player in Forster was not exactly going to be welcomed particularly warmly when putting on the Three Lions jersey.

If this was sink or swim for the pair, a real test of their temperament at international level, Roy Hodgson could only have been impressed.

In truth, Forster didn’t actually have too much to do.

There was one save as he turned over the bar that you would have expected him to make, and the goal which, though it went in at his near post, was not his fault.

Clyne though had a much greater chance to influence things, and he duly did.

Just like on his international debut against Slovenia, he was a constant threat down the right flank.

Every time he produced one of those bursts forward that Saints fans have seen so much of this season it looked like something would happen for England.

On this occasion he was also tested defensively too.

Though Scotland didn’t create many chances, they were good enough to keep knocking on the door, but Clyne was shutting it in their faces on each and every occasion.

He has was solid and again looked remarkably composed.

He really looks no different than when playing for Saints, nothing seems to faze him.

Assuming he doesn’t suffer injury or a horrendous dip in form, then the England right back role is his to lose now.

Forster is still unlikely to nudge Joe Hart out of the team.

Certainly he wasn’t given enough to do in this match to press his case, but he at least knows that he is next in line if Hart loses form or fitness.

There probably has been doubt in his mind as well as everybody else’s as to exactly the pecking order behind Manchester City’s keeper. We at least know the answer to that now, which still leaves him in pole position to strike if the chance arises.

It was Wayne Rooney who silenced the ferocious home supporters inside Celtic Park as England eased to victory over Scotland in the Battle of Britain.

Former Saints winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain converted a superb deep cross from Jack Wilshere in the first half and Rooney scored his 45th England goal after the break to double the lead.

Andrew Robertson pulled one back for Scotland in the dying minutes, but they could not add a second and Rooney found the net to seal the 3-1 victory over England's bitter neighbours and rivals.

England's fans, vocal enough themselves, revelled in the victory, but they tainted their reputation by singing foul-mouthed provocative anti-IRA songs.

The Football Association will be forced to act, particularly when England are due to play in Dublin next June.

The main focus here should not be on the songs, though.

England deserve huge praise for the way they coped with the intimidating white-hot atmosphere in east Glasgow.

This was a real test for Hodgson's young squad and they passed it with flying colours.

Many had questioned Hodgson's decision to play Wilshere in a deep midfield role, but he excelled there last night, snapping at Scotland's heels and spraying delicious long passes on the attack.

England's full-backs got forward well and they looked sturdy at the back. Forster, making his second England start on his old Celtic stomping ground, did not have a save to make until the 55th minute.

But the biggest praise must go to Rooney, who moved above Jimmy Greaves to become England's third-highest goalscorer of all time on his 101st appearance for the Three Lions.

His expertly-executed header was a fine way to put England 2-0 and just as he did on his 100th appearance against Slovenia, he scored at a crucial time to make sure of the victory.

England may have endured a torrid summer, but at least they end 2014 on a high.

England were made to feel unwelcome from the moment they stepped off the coach outside the ground.

Scotland supporters gathered at the top of Celtic Way and yelled insults at the squad as they filed past statues of Celtic greats like Jock Stein and into the ground.

It was much the same story at the start of the match. After walking on to a burst of fireworks around the pitch, not one word of God Save The Queen could be heard as the home fans made their voices heard.

Just as Rooney had predicted on the eve of the game, England dealt well with the ferocious atmosphere.

Hodgson's men went on the attack and won their first corner inside two minutes.

The visitors played a high tempo, with Clyne and former Saints teammate Luke Shaw both pushing forward to prevent Scotland's full-backs from venturing forward.

David Marshall, who overcame an injury to start in goal, was tested for the first time seven minutes in by Danny Welbeck.

Scotland thought they should have had a penalty for a handball by Gary Cahill, but referee Jonas Eriksson waved play on.

Robertson raised the spirits of home fans by swinging in a teasing cross, but there was no-one there to tap in.

Any hopes of a Scotland opener were dashed 32 minutes in though. Wilshere pinged a long cross from deep and Oxlade-Chamberlain glanced the ball past Marshall.

Scotland made three changes at half-time, with Darren Fletcher, Craig Gordon and James Morrison coming on.

It was Gordon's first appearance for four years. His first act was to pick the ball out of the net.

Robertson failed to clear an England free-kick and Rooney expertly nodded home.

Chris Smalling would have put the result beyond doubt had he converted a free header. At the other end Forster made his first save of the night from Russell Martin.

England looked set to ease to victory, but Scotland pulled one back through Robertson.

But just two minutes later Rooney turned home Adam Lallana’s cross to move within three goals of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record and put the result beyond doubt.