YORK City's teenage goalkeeper Russ Howarth has earned another England call-up.

The highly-rated prospect has been selected for the England Under-18 squad to face Israel on September 1.

The friendly match, at the Rishon Le Zion Municipal Stadium in Israel, will serve as a warm-up for the Under-18 European Championships' qualifiers that begin for England's young lions in October.

With City number one Alan Fettis in such fine form, Howarth admitted he could face a long wait to prove himself in the York first team and so his latest call-up was a major fillip.

"It is a massive boost for me and it was a bit out of the blue," a delighted Howarth told the Evening Press.

"I must admit I don't get the same buzz out of playing reserve team football. I prefer to play in front of a crowd and under pressure.

"And the way Fett's is playing at the moment there is not much chance of me getting in, unless he gets injured. I will just have to be patient and, hopefully, some of Alan's form can rub off on me."

Howarth paid tribute to Northern Ireland international Fettis and City goalkeeping coach Neville Southall, the former Everton and Wales legend, for helping his progression.

"They are good people to learn off, both internationals, both good to train with and I can only learn from them," he said.

Howarth, who will link-up with his England colleagues on Sunday, is hoping an eye-catching performance will guarantee him a place in the England set-up for the European qualifiers and beyond.

"Hopefully, if I play well in Israel I will be in but we will just have to see," said the Riccall-based 18-year-old.

Howarth's latest international call to arms comes just four months after he played for England Under-17s in their friendly 2-0 win over Luxembourg.

Howarth, who has also been capped by England at Under-16 level, was the only Third Division player named in that squad.

He will miss two City games - the Bank Holiday home encounter with Barnet and the trip to Darlington on September 2 - and leaves York manager Terry Dolan with only youth team shot-stopper John Collinson as cover for Fettis.

It could force Dolan into the transfer market, with the recruitment of an experienced keeper on a short-term loan a possibility.

As reported in the Evening Press last month, three members of last season's Under-15s squad at City are among 128 of England's most promising young schoolboys selected for five days of coaching at Keele University this week.

Graeme Law, Levent Yalcin and Chris Hogg are part of a 16-man squad chosen to represent the North East at the Heinz Ketchup Coaching Festival. Hogg has also been selected to train with the England Under-15s squad.