A PACKED Wembley kept the home fires burning for England last night, but without Alan Shearer the evening would have become a wake. Two goals from the England captain considerably eased Glenn Hoddle's discomfort in his first home game as national coach after Marek Citko had given Poland an early lead.

However, Hoddle's three-man defence looked vulnerable throughout and the 1998 World Cup looked a long way away.

Hoddle last night put his faith in the evolving Newcastle pairing of Shearer and Ferdinand which has produced 10 of the club's IS goals this season. Shearer was always going to be in but Ferdinand's recall was a surprise.

Previously Ferdinand had been regarded as an alternative to Shearer. The two had played together for England only once before, in the 1-1 draw with Portugal at Wembley last season.

Despite his explosive turn of speed and considerable strength in the air, Ferdinand's had been an England promise largely unfulfilled. Graham-Taylor had persevered with him; Terry Venables had been less impressed.

His renewed presence alongside Shearer made it even more imperative that England produced consistently good crosses last night. Barmby was dropped to accommodate Ferdinand but Hinchcliffe's trusty left foot was retained.

Not that this was of immediate concern, the way things turned out. Two probing Polish attacks suggested both that Nowak could find space with ease and that England might rue Hoddle's decision to dispense with Pallister.

Within six minutes theory had become uncomfortable fact. Baluszynski collected a return pass from Hajto on the right and sent a routine cross that should not have caused any problems. But Warzycha had come between Southgate and Neville, confusing the defenders as he allowed the ball to run on to the unmarked Citko, who scuttled in from the left to beat Seaman with a narrow-angle shot.

This was not in the script. Wembley, packed with flags and expectation, had assumed that England would simply carry on from Euro 96. As the Poles continued to unravel Hoddle's defence, while getting enough men behind the ball to frustrate England's attack, memories of less happy Wembley nights loomed.

Ominously England's attack began to lack width. Too many movements were concentrated in the crowded middle corridor; either that or long hopeful balls aimed vaguely in the direction of Ferdinand or Shearer.

Then after 25 minutes Shearer at last received the sort of ball he wanted and the scores were level. Beckham's long diagonal cross from the right was inspired, defeating both Wojtala's leap and Wozniak's advance off his line. Shearer, coming in behind Wojtala, headed firmly into the net and Wembley hearts acquired a more regular beat.

Nowak, however, continued to orchestrate Poland's movements and still England's defence hung loose, inviting the angled pass and the well-timed attacking run. But, as long as Shearer retained his mood of the summer, none of this seemed to matter.

Eight minutes before half-time England were in front, thanks to Shearer's hunger for goals. McManaman, burrowing away skilfully, and Beckham, catching the Poles off guard with one late run through the middle, were being let down by Ferdinand's poor touch but now the Newcastle striker set up Shearer for a second goal.

Shearer's first shot took a deflection off Wojtala and went straight to Ferdinand, who laid the ball straight back again. Shearer took two strides more before beating Wozniak with a thunderous drive from the penalty arc. Had a far-post header not been off target as he met Hinchcliffe's sharply inswinging corner, Shearer might have completed a hat-trick in 40 minutes.

Six minutes into the second - half Pallister came off the bench to add height, weight and authority to England's defence - but not by choice. Southgate had hurt an ankle trying to intercept the advancing Michalski and could not continue.

England's football was still far from impressive. Too often they gave the ball away in a midfield where they had been outnumbered for much of the game.

But McManaman and Beckham were doing well, consistently finding avenues of approach to hit the Poles on the counter-attack and at their most dangerous when they were turning the opposition on the right.