International saver Russ Howarth admits York City's rise from rock bottom of the Football League has softened his basement blues.

Howarth is currently on England duty training with his under-18 team mates ahead of their friendly match with Holland at Stevenage Borough on Thursday.

The Riccall-based teenager is once again the only player from outside the top two divisions to be included in coach Martin Hunter's final 22-man squad.

And Howarth admits City's last two promising performances against Rochdale and Brighton means he can stand tall among his Premiership and First Division colleagues.

"I think I can hold my head up a bit now," he said.

"Being bottom of the Football League is a tag no one wants.

"I think we are starting to turn it around now. Four points away from home - you can't fault that."

After a season spent largely on the bench serving as number two to Alan Fettis, Howarth admitted he was grateful for the chance to link-up with England.

"It is a change of scenery more than anything else," he said.

"I do get frustrated sitting on the bench, especially having had a taste of the first team last year.

"It is nice to get away and you feel a lot fresher when you get back."

Howarth views the Dutch match as perfect preparation for England's European Championship play-off against Poland next month.

The home leg for that tie will be played at Tottenham's White Hart Lane on March 22.

The return will be played on April 26 in Poland at a venue to be confirmed.

Victory over the Poles, who are expected to feature new Preston striker Pawel Abbott, a former schoolboy from York, will earn Howarth and England qualification for the prestigious European Championships, to be staged in Finland in the summer.

Howarth admits those championships are another massive carrot.

"White Hart Lane is a great setting and the Polish match is what we are building up to," he said.

"Even if I don't play in this game, hopefully I'll be in the squad for it.

"And if we qualify for Finland that will be fantastic.

"It is possibly the biggest competition you can play in at Under-18 level and it would be certainly nice to win it. "It will be something that will stay with you for the rest of your life."

Howarth faces stiff competition for the number one berth from Chelsea's Rhys Evans but started England's last match against Belgium in November last year.

Squad: Russ Howarth (York City), Rhys Evans (Chelsea), Peter Clarke (Everton), Neil Jenkins (Wimbledon), Frazer Richardson (Leeds), Matthew Hamshaw (Sheff Wed), Jay Boothroyd (Coventry), James David (Man Utd), Johnny Jackson (Tottenham), Leon Knight (Chelsea), Kevin Nolan (Bolton), Rohan Ricketts (Arsenal), Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal), Jamie McMaster (Leeds), Rory Fallon (Barnsley), Jermain Defoe (West Ham), Marc Richards (Blackburn), Boaz Myhill (Aston Villa), Jordan Stewart (Leicester City), Philip Jagielka (Sheff Utd), Jermaine Jenas (Nottingham Forest) Paul Reid (Glasgow Rangers).

Updated: 10:57 Tuesday, February 27, 2001