DANNY Ings was the toast of Turf Moor as his double stretched England Under-21s’ winning streak to 11 games.

The Young Lions used their friendly with Portugal as preparation for the European Championships next summer, while Ings took the opportunity to use home advantage for club and country to fill the boots of recent graduate Saido Berahino.

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And it could not have got off to a better start for Ings as the phrase home international took on even greater meaning.

Clarets fans had come out in support of the Burnley striker, and roared when he pounced in front of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand to give England an early lead.

He was involved in the second, for Carl Jenkinson just before half-time. Then in the second half, after Bernardo Silva had pulled one back for Portugal, Ings restored the two-goal cushion before the hour.

It was the first time since a 3-1 win over Millwall in February that the 22-year-old had scored twice in a game.

Redmond did well in the build-up for the first, receiving a ball out from the back and cutting inside before spraying out wide for Jenkinson, and the right back’s cross was met by Ings’ instinctive finish in his third start for the side.

The Clarets’ ace went close again 10 minutes later after Tom Ince, who had just strayed offside in running onto Redmond’s slipped ball, supplied him but his right foot shot from a tight angle rose over the bar.

Jack Butland had been called briefly into action at the opposite end, but Portugal’s first real chance came midway inside the first half when Ricardo Pereira stole possession from Burnley’s on loan Manchester United defender, Michael Keane, and jinked his way in from the left. The forward laid the ball off for Bruno Fernandes to strike, but the Udinese youngster dragged his 22-yard shot wide of the left hand post.

There were a couple more close calls for Ings when England went back on the attack, but he was involved when Jenkinson doubled the home side’s lead, albeit perhaps unintentionally.

Will Hughes’ cross from the left rolled underneath Ings’ foot but stopped with Jenkinson, who drilled into the bottom left corner just before the break.

Portugal, who made two changes for the second half, stepped things up and reduced the deficit in the 48th minute when Bernardo Silva took Armindo Bangna’s pass and tucked the ball between Butland’s legs.

But Ings, who impressed with his movement and work-rate both on and off the ball restored the two-goal cushion from close range as he reacted to Redmond’s low cross.

All three of Burnley’s Young Lions were on the Turf when Nathaniel Chalobah replaced Hughes a minute later, while Ings went off to an ovation in the 79th minute.

Gareth Southgate will have been pleased with what he saw from England’s youngsters with a trip to France looming on Monday as they continue their preparation for next summer’s tournament.

Ings has already spoken of his intention to play for his country if given the chance and on this showing he will surely have pencilled himself into Southgate’s squad.

And with Keane and Chalobah also firmly in contention, Clarets fans could have a lot to cheer when the tournament gets under way in the Czech Republic.

England will come up against Portugal again in their group next year.

Their next opponents France also qualified meaning another stiff test awaits come Monday.

Accrington Stanley’s former on-loan goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, of Fulham, was on the bench.

ENGLAND: Jack Butland; Carl Jenkinson, Michael Keane, Ben Gibson, Luke Garbutt (Jack Robinson 79); Tom Ince, Will Hughes (Nathaniel Chalobah 59) Jake Forster-Caskey, Tom Carroll, Nathan Redmond (Alex Pritchard 73); Danny Ings (Patrick Bamford 79) Subs not used: Jonathan Bond, Jamaal Lascelles, Alex Pritchard, Harry Kane, Cauley Woodrow, Callum Wilson, Marcus Bettinelli.