FORMER York City star Jonathan Greening made his debut for Middlesbrough in Hollland last night yielding another sizeable pay-day for his former club.

Greening starred for Boro in their friendly against Willem II Tilburg laying on the only goal for Dean Windass after completing a £2million move from Manchester United.

He was joined on the Riverside payroll by fellow England under-21 midfielder Mark Wilson, who was valued at £1.5m.

The bigger outlay on Greening will mean that his first club City can expect to realise £270,000 as part of the sell-on negotiated with the Old Trafford hierarchy after Greening went west to the join the Red Devils from Bootham Crescent in 1998.

That clause stipulated City should get a percentage - believed to be 25 per cent - of the difference between the eventual sale fee and what they have already netted from United.

With City initially getting a cash payment of £350,000 from United and then a subsequent £500,000 linked to appearances, then the Minstermen can expect a quarter of the £1,150,000 difference. That represents a healthy £270,000.

Greening's arrival in the north-east has earned him a five-year contract and a reunion with York-born manager Steve McClaren, formerly number two to Manchester United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson.

Boro wrap up their pre-season tour at FC Den Haag tomorrow and then have the North Riding Senior Cup final against York next Tuesday when Greening could be back at Bootham Crescent.

Updated: 11:51 Friday, August 10, 2001