York City shot-stopper Russ Howarth was hoping to claim Pole position today and help rescue England Under-18s' European Championship hopes.

Young England and Howarth were taking on Poland in Gdansk today in the second leg of their crucial Euro qualifier.

Howarth was on the bench for last month's first leg tie which saw the Poles sneak away from White Hart Lane with a 1-0 advantage.

It leaves England needing to score twice to earn qualification for this summer's championship finals in Finland.

But while the young lions have a mountain to climb, Howarth insists the deficit is not insurmountable.

"It's another massive game, even bigger than the first one given the result of the first leg," the Riccall-based 'keeper told the Evening Press.

"Hopefully, I will play in this one. I've started two out of the last four so I am due a game and I would love to play a part in it.

"They surprised us a little bit in the first leg and it is going to be very difficult out there. It will be a world away from playing in England.

"But hopefully we can get a good result. I'm confident we can pull it back. If we get an early goal then it will be all even.

"It is similar to what Manchester United faced when they played Bayern Munich last week - it could all well depend on who gets that first goal."

Much of England's confidence stems from the return to the side of ace marksman Jermaine Defoe.

Defoe, scorer of 17 goals for Bournemouth this season where he is on loan from West Ham, was suspended for the first leg.

"He is obviously an out and out goal scorer," enthused Howarth. "It's great to play alongside the likes of Defoe. His finishing is frightening and you can only learn from it."

Under-18s' coach Martin Hunter hopes the anguish of England's first leg defeat will focus minds in Poland.

Recalling the game at Tottenham Hotspur, he said: "The Poles were celebrating like everything was done and dusted.

"I want the boys to remember that. It's only half-time so it's now up to us to put things right when we play the second leg.

"This is the first game that this team have lost and they now have to prove that they are up for what will be a tough challenge in Poland."

With Defoe and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant likely to make the starting line-up, England know they have two players who can unlock the most miserly of defences.

Pennant, who moved to Arsenal from Notts County in a blaze of publicity, was England's most dangerous player in the first leg but it is Defoe who is referred to as "our trump card" by Hunter.

York City boss Terry Dolan was confident Howarth would oust Chelsea's Rhys Evans from today's starting line-up and claim the goalkeeping berth.

He said: "I watched the game at White Hart Lane and thought Russ might have been in the starting line-up.

"He wasn't but having seen the performance of the England team that night and the goalkeeper in particular it wouldn't surprise me if Russell played. I hope he does because he deserves it."

The game will be played in SKS Polonia Stadium, Gdansk, kicking off at 4.30pm local time.

An aggregate victory for England would see them qualify for the eight-team European Under-18 Championship in Finland in July.

England squad: Jay Bothroyd (Coventry City), Ben Clark (Sunderland), Peter Clarke (Everton), James Davis (Manchester United), Jermaine Defoe (West Ham United), Rhys Evans (Chelsea), Matthew Hamshaw (Sheffield Wednesday), Russ Howarth (York City), Johnnie Jackson (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermaine Jenas (Nottingham Forest), Leon Knight (Chelsea), Kevin Nolan (Bolton Wanderers), Stuart Parnaby (Middlesbrough), Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal), Marc Richards (Blackburn Rovers), Frazer Richardson (Leeds United), Rohan Ricketts (Arsenal), Jordan Stewart (Leicester City).

Updated: 12:47 Thursday, April 26, 2001