JONATHAN Greening is just one step away from becoming the first player to graduate from York City to full England honours.

The Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening has been named in the England squad for a training get-together on November 18-20.

Should he eventually get to pull on a senior England shirt he will be the first player to emerge from City's ranks to the pinnacle of the national game.

The former Manchester United player has caught Sven-Goran Eriksson's eye for his performances on the left of midfield for Middlesbrough.

With that position continuing to be a problem for England, the 23-year-old who began his career at Bootham Crescent will be part of a 26-man squad which will meet at Champney's Health Club in Hertfordshire on the evening of Monday November 18, train on Tuesday and Wednesday morning and then depart.

Scarborough-born Greening signed youth forms with City in December 1996 and made his debut for the Minstermen as an 18-year-old substitute in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on March 22, 1997.

Just twelve months later he moved to Old Trafford for and in summer 2001 linked up with new Middlesbrough manager, York-born Steve McClaren, with whom he had worked at Old Trafford.

It was McClaren who tipped Eriksson off about Greening's sparkling form this season. Eriksson added: "Jonathan's doing very well - so why not give him a chance? I spoke to Steve and he thinks he's doing very well."

McClaren said: "It's excellent reward for Jon and his tremendous hard work and the belief he had had in himself.

"It is justified after his excellent performances this season and we are all very, very pleased for him and extremely proud."

As expected, there was no call-up for Everton's 17-year-old striking sensation Wayne Rooney.

Former York goalkeeper Russ Howarth, is included in the Under-21 get-together squad which also includes Rooney.

The only York City man to go on and play for England was Phil Boyer, who played for England against Wales when a Norwich player.

But Boyer did not come through the ranks at City. He was bought for £3,000 as a youngster from Derby County in July 1968 and was sold by City to Bournemouth for £20,000 in December 1970.

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, November 12, 2002