Wayne Rooney's 47th international goal and a strike from Danny Welbeck have given England a 2-0 half-time lead over Lithuania in their Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley this evening.

Wayne Rooney of England celebrates the first goal with his team mates during the EURO 2016 Qualifier match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2015 © Getty Images

The hosts came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute when Rooney burst clear of the defence and placed a low shot past the keeper that came back off the inside of the post.

However, just two minutes later Rooney did find the net with a close-range header after Welbeck's strike had been parried by the keeper.

The woodwork would then deny Rooney for the second time as his looping header from Welbeck's cross hit the bar, with Jordan Henderson seeing his effort from the rebound deflect over the top.

England's striker Wayne Rooney scores his team's first goal during a Euro 2016 Group E qualifying football match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium in north London on March 27, 2015 © Getty Images

On a rare foray forward, Lithuania caused a moment of panic when Vytautas Andriuskevicius got in down the left and flashed a low ball across the box that was turned behind at the front post by Deivydas Matulevicius.

It was England who looked the more likely to score the next goal and Rooney threatened once more with a low free kick that was held by Giedrius Arlauskis, before Welbeck fired over the bar.

As the game edged towards half time England made their dominance count by scoring a second goal, as Welbeck met Henderson's delivery and nodded the ball into the net, with the aid of a slight deflection.