England began their World Cup preparations in earnest with a comfortable friendly win over Peru at Wembley.

Daniel Sturridge's fourth international goal illuminated a dire first half performance from Roy Hodgson's side before Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka increased the lead after the break.

Peru offered very little as an attacking threat and while England now travel to Miami for warm-up matches against Ecuador on 4 June and Honduras on 7 June off the back of a victory, their final game on home soil before the finals represented further evidence why their ambitions this summer are being dramatically downplayed.

The performance will come as extra disappointment to manger Roy Hodgson, who selected a strong team for the visit of Peru - who finished third-bottom of the South American World Cup qualifying group.

Jordan Henderson was preferred in midfield while Danny Welbeck began ahead of Raheem Sterling as Hodgson provided clues as to the team which will start England's opening group match in Manaus against Italy on 14 June.

World ranked No.42 Peru provided the opposition in England's final home warm-up game before the World Cup and though Pablo Bengoechea's side failed to qualify for Brazil they recorded credible results against Argentina and Chile during South American qualifying.

But as expected the hosts exerted their dominance from the outset combining significant periods of possession with a high-pressing game without the ball led by Sturridge.

However, Peru were restricting England to rare forays into the attacking third and as a result almost caught them unawares at the other end as Jean Deza's effort deflected off Jagielka and forced Joe Hart to claw the ball away from goal.

A repost came in the form of Sturridge's shot wide from an offside position but it was a rare glimpse of goal amid a performance accentuated by a clattering challenge from Rinaldo Cruzado which left captain Steven Gerrard floored.

The Liverpool skipper was able to continue but the incident once again highlighted the tightrope players walk so close to a major finals.

With 12 minutes of the first half remaining England did indeed convert their monotonous passing into an opening goal as Sturridge curled beautifully into the top corner beyond Raul Fernandez in the hosts' first shot of the game.

The lead remained intact until the break thanks to Hart's sprawling save to keep out Luis Ramirez, the final notable action of an inauspicious half from Hodgson's men.

The second period began with no greater impetus and once again saw Peru force the only effort at goal before the hour mark, as Deza's dipping shot flew bounced onto the roof of the England net.

The Montpellier winger spurned the best chance to level on the night when after Glen Johnson was caught in possession, Jagielka blocked his goal-bound effort.

Any fears of England ending their home preparations for the World Cup without a win were effectively ended just prior to the mid-way point in the second half as Cahill directed Leighton Baines' headed beyond Fernandez.

Peru's susceptibility from set-pieces was exposed just minutes later as England grabbed a third when Fernandez dropped a routine Adam Lallana corner right at the feet of Jagielka, who calmly stroked home for just his second international goal.

Amid a flurry of paper aeroplanes launched onto the pitch by disgruntled supporters, England confirmed a winning start to their World Cup warm-up fixtures in the knowledge they require a signficant improvement if they're to make an impression in Brazil.