David Beckham marked his return to the AC Milan side with an inspirational display in a 5-1 thrashing of Torino at the San Siro on Sunday. The England midfielder, whose international career has been revitalised by his move to Italy, looked back to his best as he created two goals for the veteran Filippo Inzaghi who fired a hat-trick to send AC Milan second in Serie A

In a performance that would have delighted Fabio Capello, the England manager, Beckham was restored to Milan's starting line-up following two games as an unused substitute due to a shoulder injury, and he and Inzaghi tore Torino apart.

"Everybody knows that he's one of the best goalscorers," Beckham said. "He always scores goals, wherever he is on the field. You put the ball in the right place and he scores."

Beckham set up Inzaghi's first two goals and even provided the cross for a disallowed effort early on. It was Inzaghi's second hat-trick in his last six matches and took his tally during that period to nine goals to continue his remarkable resurrection this season.

The win moved Milan level on points with Juventus but with a better goal difference, although final league positions are decided on head-to-head records if teams finish with equal points.

A Beckham a free-kick was headed in by Inzaghi on nine minutes but the forward had strayed offside.

But four minutes later he nodded home a Beckham corner and on 37 minutes a clever chip into the box from the Englishman again found the Inzaghi head.

After the break Milan ran riot as substitute Ronaldinho set up Inzaghi for his hat-trick on the hour mark before Kaka added a penalty after Massimo Ambrossini was brought down by goalkeeper Matteo Sereni.

Ivan Franceschini got Torino on the scoresheet ten minutes from time but Ambrossini finished off a sumptuous team move in the last minute to round off the scoring.