York City received another international fillip today with Russ Howarth named in the latest England Under-18 squad.

Goalkeeper Howarth has been included in the England squad selected for a friendly international with Holland, to be staged at Stevenage Borough on March 1, kick-off 7.45pm.

The match promises to be an important one for both Howarth, 18, and young England.

It will provide the teenagers' last test before they play Poland in a two-legged encounter next month with the winners earning qualification to this summer's European Championships in Finland.

City are poised for more international recognition tonight when England Under-15s take on Spain at the start of a six-match international tournament.

City junior Chris Hogg has been named in the England team for tonight's game at Rushden and Diamonds' Nene Park ground, kick-off 8pm.

The game will be preceded by the opening game in the mini-tournament between Germany and Holland (6pm).

The next matches - Spain v Germany and England v Holland - will be staged at Crawley Town on February 22 with the final round of games - Holland v Spain and England v Germany - to be hosted by Southend United on February 24.

Centre-back Hogg is skipper of City's Under-16s and is now a regular member of the intermediate squad.

Updated: 09:56 Friday, February 09, 2001