SOUTHEND United centre-back Adam Thompson will come face to face with the manager who made him a full international tomorrow.

York boss Nigel Worthington called the defender in Northern Ireland’s senior squad for the 2011 Nations Cup.

But Thompson will be desperate to get one over him at Bootham Crescent this weekend.

“I’ll always be grateful to Nigel Worthington for giving me the opportunity to play at that level but I won’t be doing him any favours,” said the 21-year-old.

“I played twice for Northern Ireland when he was in charge and it was a great experience.

“I was only really with him for quite a short time but I was impressed and he’s a good manager.

“You can tell that with the job he’s done at York because they were down the bottom when he came in and took them in to the play-offs last season so we’re in for a tough game.”

However, the Shrimpers head in to the game in good spirits after securing victories and clean sheets in their last two outings.

Thompson has partnered Luke Prosser at the heart of the back four in those games.

And the former Watford defender is delighted to be back in the side after an injury hit first season with the club.

“Last year was a bit stop start for me and I don’t feel as though I showed my full potential to be honest,” said Thompson.

“Hopefully this season the fans can see what I have to offer and we can all maintain this clean sheet mentality.

“I also enjoy lining up next to Luke as we’re pretty much best mates.

“We come in together for training and I think that's helped our partnership in the centre of defence.

“It’s growing all the time and hopefully that can continue.”

Blues now have the joint best defensive record in the division having conceded just five goals in their eight league games this season.

And Thompson is expecting a close clash tomorrow.

“We have a good record and they don’t concede many either so I think it’s going to be quite even,” said the defender.

“But we’ve won our last two now and we’re going to York to try and make it three.”

Three of the last six games between the two teams have ended goalless and the Shrimpers have not triumphed at Bootham Crescent since 1987