Despondent York City fans can put thoughts of the Conference behind them tonight when some of England's brightest young talents run out at Bootham Crescent against Sweden in an U18 international friendly.

Players attached to Premiership clubs including Manchester United, Liverpool and Middlesbrough will all be aiming to echo the footsteps of England great Michael Owen, who was the star of the last England U18 team to play at Bootham Crescent in October 1996.

Then aged 16, he scored all four in a 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland, just 18 months before going on to get that goal against Argentina in the World Cup.

The match, which kicks off at 7.30pm, is a warm-up for next year's UEFA U19 Championship qualifiers, and the players will be keen to make an impression on coach Martin Hunter.

Five of Middlesbrough's newly-crowned FA Youth Cup champions will be hoping to feature so close to home with dozens of fans expected to make the short trip down the A19 to witness the cup-winning stars in action for their country.

All five played some part in last month's 1-0 friendly win over Belgium in front of a sell-out crowd at Northampton's Sixfields stadium, with midfielder James Morrison scoring the only goal of the game.

Gary Liddle and Anthony McMahon both made brief substitute appearances, while centre half pairing Matthew Bates and Andrew Taylor will be hoping to take their successful club partnership into tonight's international and keep out Southampton duo Martin Cranie and Matthew Mills.

More than 3,000 fans are expected to attend the game for which tickets are still available at a price of £5 for adults and £1 children at the ground.

England squad: Thomas Heaton (Manchester United), David Martin (Wimbledon), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Matthew Bates (Middlesbrough), Anthony McMahon (Middlesbrough), Martin Cranie (Southampton), Matthew Mills (Southampton), Tom Carter (Wimbledon), Gary Liddle (Middlesbrough), Lee Peltier (Liverpool), Aidan Collins (Ipswich Town), Matthew Fryatt (Walsall), Richard Jones (Manchester United), Grant Leadbitter (Sunderland), James Morrison (Middlesbrough), Jamie O'Hara (Tottenham Hotspur), Andy Taylor (Blackburn Rovers), Laurence Wilson (Everton), Ian Ross (Sheffield United), Louis Dodds (Leicester City), Keith Barker (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Hopkins (Everton), Kyle Nix (Aston Villa), Will Hoskins (Rotherham United).

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, April 29, 2004