Sunderland prospect Ben Metcalf rebounds from character-building Ashington debut | OneFootball

Ben Metcalf has put a bruising start at Ashington behind him, stringing together clean sheets and earning international recognition during his first loan spell as the Sunderland academy goalkeeper settles into Northern Premier League East life.

According to Sunderland Echo, Ashington joint-interim manager Mark Ellison described the teenager’s 8-0 debut loss to newly crowned champions Redcar Athletic as character building and considered resting him for the next game. Metcalf was then on the bench for the 2-1 defeat at Emley before responding with three consecutive clean sheets.

The 19-year-old signed his first professional deal last summer after impressing at Under-18s level. He stepped up to Sunderland’s Under-21s, starting a Premier League Cup win against Norwich City in October, then a first Premier League 2 start in a 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest weeks later. He joined Ashington last month.

His progress brought a maiden Northern Ireland Under-21 call-up, though he was not named for Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Germany, which meant he missed Ashington’s 1-0 loss to Dunston UTS. Ellison said he was delighted for him, while the goalkeeper was devastated to miss out, and added that Metcalf has settled well with the squad.

Metcalf will hope to win his first Under-21 cap against Latvia on Tuesday, then return for Ashington’s visit to Hallam on Saturday. Ellison noted Ashington have six games left and thinks they will need two goalkeepers, particularly over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Source: Sunderland Echo