Newcastle United and England legend Paul Gascoigne was guest of honour as the Three Lions roared at Old Trafford.
The Italia 90 and Euro 96 star was on his feet as the goals flew in against North Macedonia as England stayed on course for next summer's European Championships in Germany. Gazza looked impressed as England's midfield engine room turned on the style on a balmy North-West night.
Sat in the VIP section Gazza looked like he was enjoying his night as his former England team-mate Gareth Southgate led his side to an emphatic victory which boosted the goal difference in Group C of qualifying. The Geordie icon particularly enjoyed Bukayo Saka's sizzling second half strike which was being spoken about as one of the great England goals.
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It proved to be a resounding win for England and a good night for Gascoigne to take a game in, but while many will refuse to get carried away by the scoreline, it's worth remembering North Macedonia are capable of a shock or two. Indeed, they have beaten Euro 2020 winners Italy and Germany in the last two years.
The first half an hour at Old Trafford was a painful watch in more ways than one. With England starting cautiously against a side - ranked 65th in the world - that were happy to sit deep to begin with.
The visiting Macedonian captain Stefan Ristovski also caused a lengthy stoppage after going down with a head injury and re-emerged with a bandaged head. Harry Kane's opener on the half-hour mark was met with a sense of relief more than anything but he took it well after Luke Shaw's cross at the Stretford End was calmly struck home.
And it was pretty much all over as a contest in the 38th minute when England's first half pressure paid off with a good move eventually rounded off with Kyle Walker's pass into the box and Bukayo Saka slamming home. It merely set the tone for goals with Kane nicking the ball on the left and rolling it to Jordan Henderson who helped it on for Marcus Rashford to apply the finish for 3-0.
England went in with a strong lead at the break and didn't take long to add to it in the second period. Saka's second of the evening was special as he powered home after chesting down a long ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold and fired from the edge of the box to leave the keeper with no chance.
By then the floodgates were officially open, and Saka's hat-trick was completed with just 51 minutes gone. Kane slipped the ball through the centre and Saka stayed calm and slotted home his third of the night.
Substitute Kalvin Phillips was afforded a tap in on 64 minutes after Jack Grealish crossed before Harry Kane poked the ball to the Man City star to score a simple goal. Newcastle striker Callum Wilson was due to come on as John Stones won a penalty as the game moved into the latter stages.
It was Kane who stepped up to make it 7-0 to grab his second of the night and his seventh in the last six England matches. Kane was then applauded off and replaced by the Newcastle number 9. Wilson was unable to add to the scoreline but England are well on their way to Euro 2024.
