ENGLAND rookie Jonathan Greening last night admitted Steve McClaren took a gamble when he bought him from Manchester United 16 months ago.

Middlesbrough boss McClaren paid £2m for the midfielder in the summer of 2001, and last season he struggled to prove his worth in his first full Premiership campaign.

But since August, Greening has been a revelation in a Boro side that has claimed a top six place and he insists that his new found success on the field is down to his switch to Teesside.

The 23-year-old also insists he would not have been surprised if McClaren had dropped him last season when he was struggling to find his feet in the top-flight.

"The gaffer brought me from Manchester United which was a big gamble for him," said the former York City man. "I must thank him and the coaching staff for helping my game come along.

"I'm really grateful to the gaffer for sticking with me and playing me nearly every game last season.

"He showed faith in me and told me I could do it even when I wasn't playing that well.

"I hope I can repay the faith shown by him and everyone. I will go down to the training camp next week, try to stake a claim so the England coach knows I'm good enough."

Greening joins the 26-man England squad next week for a training get together in Hertfordshire, and he revealed he could not believe it when he received the news.

The hard-working midfielder is seen as a possible solution to the left-side problem the current national team have, but he knows he still has a long way to go if he is to fulfil a dream and cement his place in the squad.

"I'm well pleased with the call, even if I'm in complete shock," said Greening. "I got the call on Monday and couldn't believe it.

"The call came as a complete shock, but it's always been my ambition to put myself in the frame for the full England team.

"I remember as a 12-year-old dreaming of playing football at the highest level.

"My dream has come true and some days I can hardly believe it is all happening to me.

"If I can carry on doing well then I hope I can stay in the England manager's mind. It's just a training camp, but I will try to impress."

And, after playing his part in Saturday's win over Liverpool, Greening is now hoping Boro can keep up winning ways at Chelsea on Saturday.

The Scarborough-born schemer is determined not to get carried away and he said: "We have a big game at Chelsea and I know that I have to keep my feet on the ground."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.