Stuart Pearce praised midfielder Henri Lansbury after the West Ham loanee inspired England U21s to a 6-0 win against Azerbaijan.
Pearce's young Lions banished memories of June's dismal European Championships in Denmark by getting their new qualifying campaign up and running with the easiest of victories.
Pearce lost the services of several key men for last night's Group 8 win at Vicarage Road, with captain Phil Jones called up to the senior squad and Danny Welbeck, Kyle Walker and Emmanuel Frimpong all withdrawing through injury.
But England did not need them as a new-look side romped home, inspired by Lansbury, who scored twice and set up both of Craig Dawson's two debut goals.
Pearce said of Lansbury, who was part of the squad in Denmark: "Henri, in some ways, came of age this summer.
"You have to look at these young players and sometimes it takes some longer than others to come make a stamp at under-21 level. Henri's one of those. He's been patient, his training was fantastic during the summer.
"We saw a different Henri Lansbury, a more mature young man that was playing and was fantastic around the group. We were expecting a great deal of him tonight and he's delivered."
Lansbury joined West Ham from Arsenal on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day and Pearce added: "The more players that we've got out actually playing for clubs, the better is it for me.
"For me as a national coach, it's ideal. As we've seen with the likes of (Theo) Walcott, the under-21s have had to supplement the lack of club football in some ways."
