Gusto started at right-back for France and had an eventful first half on his return to Baku.

Azerbaijan took an early lead when the ball was played inside the Blues man and Rahman Dashdamirov ran through and slid the ball across for Renat Dadasov to make it 1-0 after just four minutes.

The 22-year-old then played a major role in the equaliser. He showed good pace to run onto a through ball and expertly hooked an inch-perfect cross for Jean-Philippe Mateta to head in the equaliser 17 minutes in.

Gusto thought he had manufactured France's second when he smashed the ball towards goal from inside the penalty area and the ball rebounded in off former Chelsea team-mate Christopher Nkunku. But VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

France did take the lead on the half-hour mark, though, and once again it was Gusto who recorded the assist. The Chelsea full-back slid in at the far post to reach a long diagonal from the left and Maghnes Akliouche applied the finish for 2-1.

France then had another goal ruled out by VAR before, incredibly, Gusto had a hand in a third goal inside the opening half. As the clock rolled into injury-time, Gusto lofted the ball back into the danger area and whilst he will not get an assist for this one, after a fine save denied the initial effort, Khephren Thuram poked home the follow-up from close range for 3-1.

There were to be no more goals in the second period but it was another 90 minutes for Gusto in what was his eighth cap for France.

Elsewhere, Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah remained on the bench for England's trip to Albania, as Harry Kane's second-half brace meant it is eight wins from eight in World Cup qualifying for former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.