England should profit from Peru resting senior players

England, 25/1 with Coral to win the World Cup, last played Peru way back in 1962 and won handsomely 4-0. A repeat scoreline at Wembley some 52 years on is 14/1.

Peru’s best English export Nolberto Solano, and his whole generation, have thus missed out on battling the Three Lions. Contemporaries Jefferson Farfan, Paolo Guerrero and Claudio Pizarro are all rested by new coach Pablo Bengoechea as he looks to the future.

The visitors, massive 8/1 outsiders to upset Roy Hodgson’s side, have called up just five players over the age of 26 for the friendly. England are the odds-on favourites for victory at 1/3, while it’s 4/1 for a draw.

Only Sporting Lisbon forward Andre Carrillo has an international goal to his name throughout Peru’s attacking options. He is a 5/1 shot to add to that anytime here. Real Madrid youth product Christian Benavente could make a name for himself, meanwhile, and is 7/1 to score against England.

Three Lions and Manchester United great Paul Scholes expressed his hope that Hodgson would send his side out to play with Liverpool’s “swagger”, so it is their contingent that punters would be well-advised to look to for goals here.

Daniel Sturridge, leading English marksman in the Premier League, is even-money to score anytime, and a more attractive 4/1 to net the opener. Winger Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, is a 7/4 to get a goal while playing Peru.

Midfield pair Steven Gerrard (15/8) and Jordan Henderson (15/2) are also outside bets to cap fine club seasons by scoring here. This may also be the perfect opportunity to hand Everton’s rising star Ross Barkley his first senior start.

Scorer of some spectacular goals for the Toffees this term, he is 7/2 to net anytime at Wembley. Further international exposure for Southampton’s Adam Lallana – how much longer we can say that remains to be seen – can be expected here too.