York City's international saver Russ Howarth admits the key to young England's European success could lay in his hands.

As reported in the Evening Press, the City teenager has been named in the Under-18 squad for the European Championship qualifying tournament which kicks-off in Ancona, Italy, tomorrow.

England play Andorra tomorrow, the Faroe Islands on Monday and Italy on Wednesday, with the winners of the group going through to an intermediary qualifying round next spring.

Eight teams from those 16 will then go forward to next summer's Under-18 European Championships in Finland.

Howarth, who has spent this week training with his England colleagues before flying out to Italy, believes he is behind Chelsea's Rhys Evans in the pecking order.

But he is hopeful of starting at least one of the first two games against either Andorra or the Faroe Islands, when England will be looking to boost their goal difference ahead of what should be a final crunch clash with the host nation.

"It may all come down to goal difference in the end," admitted the 18-year-old. "Hopefully, I will get a full game against one of the lesser teams.

"If it finishes 1-1 against Italy then it may depend on how much you get against the other two - and how many you concede."

Not that Howarth or England will take either Andorra or the Faroe Islands too lightly.

"As the seasons go on they are getting stronger and more developed so you think they are easy games but it could turn out to be a tough one at the end of the day.

"I would give 110 per cent whatever happens but as long as I don't get complacent that is the main thing.

"If you get complacent that's when the goals start getting conceded."

And while Riccall-based Howarth maintains he is happy at York City he makes no apologies for aiming high and sees England as a springboard to the big time.

"Hopefully, I can use this as a boost to go higher," he said.

"Obviously, I cannot get in the first team because of the form of Alan Fettis at the moment so the under-18s is a boost.

"I like to think I deserved it. I have done well enough for the Under-16s and Under-17s and didn't give them a reason not to pick me so hopefully I can hold my place in the squad.

"It may persuade people to come and watch me in the reserves and then somebody will take a chance on me.

"But I just have to be patient at the moment and keep working hard.

"It is a big inspiration to see the likes of Richard Cresswell, Nick Culkin, Jonno Greening go on. It gives you something to aim for because you know the club won't hold you back.

"It has a record of selling players and helping develop their careers and if I work hard enough I will get that break."

And as the only player included in the squad outside the top two divisions, Howarth conceded it was another feather in the cap for York.

"It is a good personal achievement for me being selected for England," he said. "But it also shows that if you are at a lower club and you are good enough you will get found out."

And while he has to be patient and ply his trade in the City reserves, next summer's European Championships provide Howarth with another carrot to keep progressing.

"Playing for England is a different world," he admitted.

"You have to remember that most of the players you are training with will be the next England players in five to six years time so being involved can only help me."

York City v Mansfield file

Nationwide League Division Three

at Bootham Crescent tonight 7.45pm

York City

Definite: Fettis Edmondson, Sertori, Hocking, Hall, Durkan, Agnew, Bullock, Potter, Mathie, McNiven

Subs (from): Southall, Jones, Jordan, J Williams, Aclide/Turley

Mansfield

Probable: Bobby Mimms, Les Robinson, Stuart Hicks, John Fortune, Lee Williams, Wayen Corden, Bobby Hassell, Mark Blake, Darrell Clarke, Chris Greenacre, Mick Boulding

Subs (from): Kevin Pilkington, John Andrews, Alistair Asher, David Jervis, Danny Bacon, Lee Williamson, Craig Disley.

Injury news: Wayne Bradley (ankle), Martin Pemberton (knee ligament), Michael Sisson (cruciate), Jamie Lomas (cruciate)

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport)

Match Facts

The Stags, who won the corresponding game last season 1-0, have not lost on their last four league visits to Bootham Crescent.

In total they have made 31 trips, winning six and drawing five times.

City's biggest win in the series was 6-1 in 1982/83 when Keith Walwyn hit a hat-trick. David Dunmore also recorded a treble in a 5-1 success in 1953/54.

A crowd of 14,209 saw a 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent on Boxing Day 1955.

The last home victory over Town was 2-1 in 1983/84 when the scorers were Gary Ford and Alan Hay.

Players to have appeared for both clubs include Tom Lockie, who for many years served City as trainer and then manager, Jimmy Weir, Kevin Randall, Ian McDonald, Terry Eccles, Brian Pollard, Gary Ford and Richard Cresswell, who had a loan spell at Town while with City.