LEIGHTON BAINES was delighted to take his phenomenal Premier League assister act onto the international stage for the first time on Saturday.

The Everton defender had only been on the Wembley pitch six minutes as a replacement for the injured Ashley Cole when his beautifully cushioned chest down from James Milner’s pass gave Ashley Young the opportunity to score England’s equaliser.

That gave England a 2-2 draw they had barely looked like earning when Switzerland raced into a 2-0 lead, and added to Baines’ remarkable tally of assists for Everton during the last Premier League season.

In the official Premier League statistics, only Manchester United winger Nani, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas supplied more assists than the Everton defender last season.

And in the hour he played against the Swiss Baines got forward regularly producing a stream of dangerous crosses.

On his chest-down for Young the Everton full-back, winning his fifth cap, said: “I was just trying to give him an option. James Milner put a good ball into me and I’ve managed to get it down into Ashley’s path and he has the quality to finish things like that off.

“It was a nice combination which is what you hope to get when you go down either flank. You hope your wide men and full-backs can link up.”