Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for England's second Euro 2016 warm-up match as they host Australia at the Stadium of Light. This match is the last chance for the fringe players to impress Roy Hodgson before he picks his final 23-man squad to take to France, so it is a big occasion for many of the players who will take to the field. Speaking of which, let's take a look at the side the England boss has chosen...

ENGLAND STARTING XI: Forster; Clyne, Smalling, Stones, Bertrand; Henderson, Wilshere, Drinkwater; Lallana, Sterling, Rashford

ENGLAND SUBS: Walker, Heaton, Milner, Dier, Townsend, Kane, Rooney, Alli, Rose, Barkley, Hart

AUSTRALIA STARTING XI: Ryan; Smith, Milligan, Wright, Risdon; Luongo, Jedinak, Mooy; Maclaren, Rogic, Kruse

AUSTRALIA SUBS: Behich, Inman, Malik, Juric, Ikonomidis, Birighitti, McKay, Federici, Goodwin, Degenek, Wilkinson, Irvine

As expected, then, Roy Hodgson makes a number of changes to his side for tonight's game having played close to a first-choice side - at least from the players available to him - against Turkey last time out. Only three players retain their places from that team, with John Stones, Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling the trio to maintain their spots. All three still have something to prove to Hodgson, with Stones bidding for a starting role ahead of Smalling or Cahill, Wilshere still working his way back up to full fitness and Sterling also looking to hold off competition to keep his place in the starting XI at the Euros.

Undoubtedly the headline news from the team selection is a debut for young Marcus Rashford, though. The 18-year-old made his Manchester United bow just 92 days ago, yet finds himself in the England starting XI tonight following a meteoric rise during the closing months of the campaign. Two goals on his club debut set the tone, and eight overall from his 18 appearances earned him a spot in Roy Hodgson's provisional squad for this summer's tournament. Whether he makes the final 23 or not may hinge on his performance tonight, so as if making your England debut wasn't daunting enough, it is arguably even bigger than usual for Rashford tonight.

The youngster has taken every challenge in his stride so far, though, and while it could be a bit of a risk to take him to the Euros, ongoing concerns over the fitness of Daniel Sturridge could force Hodgson's hand a little. Sturridge does not even make the bench today as he continues to struggle with a calf strain, and should Rashford impress then the Liverpool striker may well miss out on the Euros entirely. The option of youth is one that has worked for England in major tournaments with the likes of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney in recent times, but they are big names to follow for Rashford. He will become the second youngest player to make his England debut under Hodgson today, with only Raheem Sterling having been brought into the fold at a younger age.

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Rashford is one of the Manchester United contingent who were unavailable for the Turkey match due to their participation in the FA Cup final, while Liverpool's players also missed out on that game having played in the Europa League final. The Reds are represented by three players in tonight's starting XI, though, with Clyne, Lallana and Henderson all being drafted in. The latter did come off the bench against Turkey as he looks to get minutes under his belt following a recent knee injury, but this is his first start for a while and you'd think that he only needs to get through the game with no setbacks to be guaranteed a place on the plane to France.

Elsewhere in midfield, Jack Wilshere is another who needs minutes having only made his first start of the campaign on the final day, and as a result he starts again tonight. Leicester's Danny Drinkwater is one of the fringe players who will be desperate to impress in what is his third cap, and when it comes to trimming the squad down to 23 he is arguably the most vulnerable alongside Rashford, Townsend and, injury-depending, Sturridge. Delph has already been relegated to the standby list due to injury, while Townsend only makes the bench this evening.

In defence, Cahill misses out with a hip injury but probably wouldn't have started anyway, while Smalling captains his country for the first time. It looks as though he and Cahill may be England's first-choice centre-back partnership at the Euros, but a good performance from Stones tonight could change that. All three are pretty much guaranteed to be on the plane having been the only centre-backs named in the squad, although Dier can, of course, fill in back there. There is a tussle for positions on the flanks too, with Clyne and Bertrand given the chance to show what they can do tonight after Walker and Rose started last week. Behind them, Forster starts in place of Hart.

As for Australia, they have a number of familiar faces from British football in their ranks, including captain Mile Jedinak of Crystal Palace. He has had to overcome the disappointment of losing the FA Cup final ahead of this game and comes up against a couple of the United players who were partly responsible for that defeat today, so there is a chance of exacting a small measure of revenge. Liverpool's Brad Smith starts at full-back, meanwhile, and Bailey Wright (Preston) and Massimo Luongo (QPR) are also based in England.

Tom Rogic, meanwhile, plies his trade for Celtic, and he is one to watch for England tonight having scored three goals in his last two games for Australia. There is a first international start for Jamie Maclaren, meanwhile, as Ange Postecoglou makes three changes to the team that thrashed Jordan in their last outing. Luongo, Maclaren and Jedinak all come in, with Cahill, Leckie and Sainsbury missing out.

It is not an Australia side that boasts some of the names of England's recent opponents, it must be said, and the Three Lions go into tonight's game as heavy favourites to pick up another victory on their way to Euro 2016. The win is arguably not the most important thing today, though, and Hodgson is sure to experiment with his side a little. That goes further than just the obvious of personnel, with the manager also switching formations during the recent match against Turkey.

That match on Sunday showed that England still have plenty to work on before this summer's tournament, with the Three Lions struggling to get any sort of fluidity and rhythm to their game. They eventually ran out 2-1 winners, and probably deservedly so having also missed a penalty through Harry Kane, but Turkey matched Hodgson's side for long spells. It took goals from Kane and Vardy to give them the victory, and Hodgson will not want his side to become overly reliant on the two in-form strikers.

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There were flashes of potential going forward against Turkey, but it was at the back where most of the questions lay, although in fairness England had only been together for a few days up to that point and were still missing a substantial chunk of their squad due to club commitments. They will need to show more if they are to justify their tag as fourth favourites at Euro 2016, though, behind only hosts France, world champions Germany and defending champions Spain.

Those odds do reflect most of England's form heading into the tournament, though, with the Three Lions having beaten both France and Germany in recent games and going through the entire qualification process with a perfect record. It is the first time that they have ever managed to do that, winning 10 from 10, and they are also only the sixth team to manage it while reaching the Euros. It is no guarantee of success at the tournament itself, though. France in 1992 and Czech Republic in 2000 were knocked out in the groups despite a perfect record in qualifying, while the French class of 2004 only made the quarters and Germany reached the semi-finals in 2012. Spain, also in 2012, are the only team to follow up a perfect qualifying record by going on to lift the trophy.

Of course, not many will be realistically expecting England to go all the way in France, but their recent form has at least raised optimism of a better showing than their dismal World Cup campaign tow years ago. Since the defeat to Uruguay that confirmed a group-stage exit in Brazil, England have lost just two of their 20 outings, winning 15 of those. Both of those defeats have come in their last five games, though, losing to Spain and Netherlands - who failed to even qualify for this summer's tournament - in friendlies.

That loss to Netherlands was a very rare blip at home, though. England usually manage to get the job done in front of their own fans, as 10 wins from their last 11 outings on home soil attests to. They have kept eight clean sheets in that time too, conceding just four goals and scoring 26 in the process since their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in November 2011.

That run includes five victories from their last six home friendlies, while home and away they have won three of their last four, with the solitary exception coming in the Netherlands match. Indeed, since that defeat to Germany they have only been beaten twice in 13 friendlies - a run that includes those wins over the two Euro 2016 favourites, France and Germany.

It looks to be a big ask for Australia tonight, then, particularly as England represent a significant step up from the teams they are used to facing. The Socceroos are currently embroiled in a qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup, and the first round of that means taking on a whole host of minnows for what a largely foregone conclusions. Australia's last four opponents have been Jordan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan.

It is no surprise, then, that they cruised through that first round of World Cup qualification, although there was a blip along the way as they lost 2-0 to Jordan. Aside from that it is seven wins from their last eight matches, though, and only one defeat in their last 13 outings in all competitions stretching back to the Asian Cup last January. Australia went on to win that competition on home soil, beating South Korea in the final after extra time having earlier been beaten by the same team in the group stages.

Such is the inferior level of opposition throughout the early Asian World Cup qualification rounds that Australia's record was not even the best. No team scored more goals than their tally of 29 from eight games, but South Korea managed to go through the whole campaign with an entirely perfect record - eight wins from eight and not a single goal conceded. Japan also progressed without conceding a goal, making Australia's record of four conceded in eight games look positively leaky.

They have scored a whopping 19 goals in their last four internationals, though - an average of 4.75 per game - whilst conceding only once at the other end in the process. That one goal came in their most recent outing as they thrashed Jordan 5-1, with Tim Cahill grabbing two goals as the Socceroos finished off their campaign in style. Mooy, Rogic and Luongo, all of whom start tonight, also got on the scoresheet in that match, but they won't be expecting it to be quite as easy this time around.

Australia should have more testing opposition in the next round of qualifying, where they have been drawn in a group alongside Iraq, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the UAE, with the top two reaching the World Cup finals and third place going into a playoff. The Aussies will go into that group as favourites alongside Japan to get through, and any slip-ups would be a shock, but it shouldn't be quite as straightforward as the last phase either.

It isn't often that Australia get the chance to play against higher-calibre opposition, but on their last visit to Europe they impressed with a 2-2 draw against world champions Germany. It took a late Lukas Podolski strike to rescue that draw for Germany too, with Australia just minutes away from a famous victory back in March of last year. Despite that being an impressive result, they are winless in their last 10 meetings with European opposition, losing eight of those. Their last victory over a team from this continent did come on British soil, though, as they beat Wales 2-1 in August 2011.

Australia come into this match having only lost one of their last six away games, but once again you have to look at the calibre of opposition in those cases. When it comes to friendlies their record is a lot poorer - they are winless in their last five and have only won one of 10 since November 2013 - a 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia. That win in September 2014 is also their only away victory in a friendly in their last eight attempts.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at the Stadium of Light, which means that it is time for a prediction! England may be experimenting a little tonight, but they should still have enough about them to pick up the victory on home soil. It is a step up to what many of these Australia players are used to, and there will be plenty of players in white shirts desperate to impress. I'll go for a 2-0 home win.

Australia have only ever won one of their past six meetings with England, but that did come in the last clash between the two sides, and on English soil too. Popovic, Kewell and Emerton got the goals for the visiting Socceroos at Upton Park in February 2003, while Francis Jeffers got the solitary reply for England - his first and only goal for his country. Sven-Goran Eriksson made 11 changes at half time in that match, most notably bringing on a young Wayne Rooney for his international debut.

Aside from that defeat, though, England have won three and drawn two of the other five meetings, and they will be confident of improving that record further here. It is only the second time they have played a home game away from Wembley since the new stadium reopened in 2007, with the first coming on Sunday when they faced Turkey at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.

Incidentally, Turkey were the opponents the last time England played in Sunderland too, with Darius Vassell and David Beckham scoring in a 2-0 win for the Three Lions on that occasion. Indeed, they have an unblemished record in Sunderland, with six wins from six previous internationals in the city.

Right, the anthems have been sung and the handshakes have been complete, so we're just about ready to go at the Stadium of Light! It is a huge occasion for some of these England players, particularly Rashford, as they aim to impress Hodgson one last time.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! England get us underway at the Stadium of Light as they look to fine tune preparations before Roy Hodgson chooses his final squad.

Would you believe it?! Less than three minutes into his international debut, Marcus Rashford breaks the deadlock! That is what you call an introduction! Forster almost gifted Australia an opener just seconds before, but England quickly break up the other end and Sterling's cross deflects up into the area. Rashford is quickly onto it and watches it all the way before firing a first-time volley past the keeper to become the youngest player to ever score on their England debut. The fairytale continues!

There have already been a few nervy signs in the England defence today, with Australia responding well to going behind. It is very much like the Turkey game so far, with a goal in the opening three minutes but then the opposition hitting back.

SHOT! This has been a good response from the visitors, and Kruse brings it forward here before letting fly from around 25 yards out. It is a decent enough hit, but it is always rising and does not test Forster.

We're less than 10 minutes into this match and Rashford's England career, so it is important not to get ahead of ourselves, but the youngster is looking pretty comfortable at this level right now. He was calm with his finish and with his celebration after making history, and he has looked composed in possession so far too. Promising signs...

Incidentally, England are playing the diamond 4-4-2 formation today, with Sterling up front alongside Rashford. Lallana is the man in the number 10 role, while Drinkwater is left, Henderson right and Wilshere in the holding role.

England made a bright start to the game against Turkey before fading after scoring an early goal, and that has happened to a lesser extent so far tonight. The hosts are still enjoying most of the ball, but Ryan hasn't had anything to do other than picking the ball out of his net so far.

CHANCE! Chance for Rashford to grab a second as England launch a lightning counter-attack. Wilshere releases Sterling, who in turn sends Rashford clean through on goal. The youngster can't get the ball under control, though, and wastes a very presentable opportunity.

Almost another chance for England as Rashford slides a pass in to Sterling, who is tackled by a gold shirt inside the Australia box. The ball breaks free towards the edge of the area and both Drinkwater and Henderson have swings at it, but neither reach the goal.

SHOT! Another shooting opportunity for the visitors as Rogic picks up Smalling's header before driving forward towards the edge of the area. He scuffs his eventual finish, though, dragging it comfortably wide.

Rashford's goal, by the way, makes him the third youngest goalscorer in England's history, behind only Rooney and Owen. Both of those players went on to make an impact for England in major tournaments at a very young age...

Not too much to report from the last few minutes, but unless something extraordinary happens in the remainder of the game, the headlines have already been written with Rashford's goal inside three minutes.

England win a free kick in a good crossing position and Bertrand is the man to swing it in. It isn't the best delivery, but it falls to Henderson, who can't connect properly with his effort.

Australia will feel that they are very much in this game. They have seen more of the ball, enjoying 56% possession, and while they are yet to really test Forster, Ryan has also been untroubled since that nightmare start.

Almost a chance for Australia, but Stones makes a vital block. Smith makes a forward run down the left flank and cuts a low ball into the middle towards Maclaren. Stones gets a timely challenge in to prevent the Australian forward a clear chance, though.

England have at least regained control of possession in the last couple of minutes, but they aren't going anywhere particular fast with it at the moment.

CHANCE! Decent opening for England as Bertrand wins the ball down the left flank and cuts it back for Rashford. He clips a clever pass in to Lallana, who is onside, but he has his back to goal and by the time he is able to turn and shoot, Ryan is right in his face to smother the effort.

Good defending from Smalling as he is left alone in the area to deal with a cross from Risdon. He is facing his own goal, but manages to nod the ball up and over the crossbar for a corner.

After that dream start for England, it doesn't really look like they have learned much from that Turkey game. With the exception of an equaliser, it has been almost a carbon copy of Sunday's match so far.

Almost a chance for Sterling as Wilshere plays a one-two just outside the area before clipping a pass towards Sterling, but Ryan just beats the winger to the ball. It spills free and Sterling is quickly onto it, but his subsequent cross can't find a red shirt.

Another ambitious effort from Rogic as the ball drops to him from range, but he doesn't connect with it particularly well and once again Forster is untroubled.

YELLOW CARD! Mooy becomes the first player in the book tonight for a rather rash challenge on Bertrand.

Smith has a couple of shoves at Sterling, who duly goes down to win England a free kick in a very good crossing position...

SAVE! Almost a second for England as Bertrand plays the free kick to the edge of the box, where both Henderson and Drinkwater are in acres of space. It is Henderson who curls a first-time effort towards the top corner, but Ryan reacts well to tip it over the crossbar.

We're nearing half time now, and it has been a mixed half for England. It was a brilliant start for England, but they have failed to kick on from then to be honest.

The referee brings an end to the first half here at the Stadium of Light, then, and it is England who go into the interval with the lead. It is Rashford's dream that has carried on, but after the early goal England went off the boil a little and it has been an even contest for the most part today.

It took Rashford just 135 seconds to make his mark on international football, becoming the youngest ever player to score on his England debut. The ball broke to him after Sterling's deflected cross had looped up into the air, and he watched it all the way onto his boot before volleying it past the keeper at the near post. Having scored on his European debut and Premier League debut, he has now added his England debut to that in just his 19th senior outing.

Rashford had another chance to add a second after 15 minutes, and he probably should have done better having been played clean through on goal by Sterling. It was a lightning break from England and Rashford was quick up in support of Sterling, but with green grass in front him he miscontrolled it and the ball ran through to safety.

Henderson has also come close to doubling the hosts' lead late in the half when Bertrand pulled the ball back to the Liverpool skipper on the edge of the box. He was left unmarked and curled a first-time effort towards the top corner, but Ryan got a hand to it to push it over the crossbar. Lallana has also had a half chance when Rashford found him with a clever pass, but the midfielder has his back to goal and Ryan was quick out to smother the eventual effort.

For their part, Australia have played pretty well so far tonight, matching England for long spells of the game. They are yet to really test Forster, with their sights of goal being limited to long-range efforts that have flown off target, but they are certainly not making things easy for England either.

KICKOFF: Australia get us back underway for the second half, and Hodgson has called for experience from the bench at the break. Wayne Rooney and James Milner come on in place of Lallana and Wilshere.

Interestingly, Rooney has gone straight into the central striking role after coming on as a sub, despite being expected to play in the number 10 role at the Euros. Sterling has gone out to the left and Rashford is on the right in a 4-3-3 formation now.

England have controlled the ball in the opening stages of his second half, but I'm not sure how many fans will be pleased to see Rooney leading the line at the moment. In this formation there aren't many other places he can fill in, but it seems like a bit of a pointless exercise if Rooney isn't going to play there at the Euros, particularly when you have Barkley still sitting on the bench.

Almost a quick break for England as Henderson releases Rooney with a good early ball over the top. Sterling tries to race on the inside and Rooney attempts to find him, but his pass it cut out and the ball goes back safely to Ryan.

SHOT! Sloppy play from England as they struggle to clear their lines, with the ball eventually falling to Rogic on the edge of the box. He is able to get another shot away, but once again it flies off target.

England have their second goal, and it is Rooney who gets it! It is another quick break from the hosts as Sterling races forward down the left flank before finding an unmarked Rooney in the middle. The United skipper puts his foot right through the ball and lashes a thunderbolt just underneath the crossbar, leaving Ryan no chance at all.

That is Rooney's 52 goal for England, extending his all-time record and just serving up a little reminder that he knows where the goal is amid debate as to whether he should start at the Euros.

AUSTRALIA SUBS: The visitors make a couple of changes in the wake of that goal as Christopher Ikonomidis and Matt McKay replace Luongo and MacLaren.

1 - Wayne Rooney netted his 52nd goal for England, but his first ever as a substitute. Cameo. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 27, 2016

CHANCE! Another good break from England and another decent chance for the hosts. Sterling flicks the ball to Rooney, who in turn feeds it out wide right for Rashford. Once again the youngster's touch lets him down, but he still manages to squeeze a low cross into the middle towards Rooney. The skipper doesn't connect properly with his effort, though, and the chance goes begging.

ENGLAND SUB: Has he done enough to make Hodgson's squad? I suspect so, but he can no longer do any more as Rashford makes way to be replaced by Ross Barkley.

CLOSE! Another close one for England as Rooney, Henderson and Barkley all combine to tee up Clyne. The full-back lets fly from just outside the area, but his powerful strike flies narrowly over the crossbar.

Yet another shooting chance for Australia, but once again it comes from range. A corner is cleared as far as Risdon, who lashes a first-time effort well off target from 25 yards.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Australia as Ikonomidis drifts into a bit of space at the back post and gets his head to a clipped cross. He can't get the power or accuracy on his header to test Forster, though, and he may have been better off trying to knock that down for Rogic.

This has been a improved performance from England in this second half, and Hodgson could read a couple of things into that - namely the inclusions of Rooney and Milner, and the 4-3-3 formation.

CHANCE! Another decent chance for Australia as Kruse collects the ball down the right side of the area, but Forster makes his first real save of the contest.

CLOSE! England threaten at the other end of the pitch as Barkley links up with Milner, with the Liverpool man keeping his composure before drilling an effort a yard or so past the post.

ENGLAND SUB: Another change for England here as Smalling makes way to be replaced by Eric Dier, who will fill in at centre-back.

AUSTRALIA SUBS: The visitors make a couple of changes too as Tomi Juric and debutant Milos Degenek come on in place of Risdon and Rogic.

Oh he's only just come on, but Eric Dier has scored an own goal to give Australia a route back into this match! He hasn't been used to playing at centre-back this season and perhaps that played a part here as the Tottenham man stooped to attempt to header away Degenek's low cross when he should have cleared it with his feet. He skews his header into his own net, and out of nothing England's deficit is halved.

ENGLAND SUB: In the immediate aftermath of that goal, Andros Townsend replaces Sterling, with the Newcastle man being booed by the fans here in Sunderland.

Henderson puts a cross into a dangerous area that is turned behind for a corner, while in the build-up to that Rooney seemed to pick up a knock. He is not moving freely here, but will try to run it off.

England have a good element of control over this game at the moment, but that Dier own goal will just make things a little more nervy in the closing stages. It could be a good test for them in the closing stages.

AUSTRALIA SUB: Two more Australia subs here as Jackson Irvine and Craig Goodwin replace Kruse and Mooy.

SAVE! Save for Forster to make here, but it is a simple one as Goodwin can't connect properly with his header and the ball bounces easily into the keeper's arms.

ENGLAND SUB: Big moment for Tom Heaton here as he makes his England debut, replacing Forster in goal for the closing stages.

There will be three added minutes at the end of this match.

The referee blows for full time at the Stadium of Light, and it is back-to-back 2-1 wins for England as they see off the challenge of Australia in their final match before Hodgson must pick his 23-man squad for the Euros. It has been a good evening for Rashford, Stones and Smalling, who all put in impressive performances that are sure to push them into Hodgson's thinking. Townsend was also positive during his late cameo, so it will be a difficult task to cut this squad down.

The headlines were written after less than three minutes tonight, though, with Rashford marking his England debut with a goal 135 seconds after kickoff to continue his fairytale rise. He volleyed the ball home after it dropped to him inside the box, and it was a player at the other end of his international career - Wayne Rooney - who added the second with an emphatic finish in the second half. Eric Dier scored an own goal to halve the deficit, but England easily held on for the win.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as England continue their Euro 2016 preparations with a win over Australia. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!