The Real Madrid striker, stand-in skipper in place of the suspended David Beckham, headed in the only goal of the game midway through the first-half to secure a vital World Cup qualifying win.

And he said: "To be captain, to win the game and score the only goal is great. I can now jet back to see my family in England for half a day and right now things couldn't be better.

"It was a great ball into the middle from Ashley Cole and I think the defender thought he had it covered. But the wind was really strong out there and he misjudged it and even after I headed it the wind seemed to help it go inside the post.

"It was an important goal first and foremost because it helped win us the game. It was nice to get on the scoresheet, but the main thing is how we do as a team.

"It could have been better, but it was always going to be tough to play away from home in these conditions and we would have taken a 1-0 win before the game started.

"We have now taken six points from two games and we are feeling good about ourselves and sitting pretty at the top of the table."