Sunderland prospect Ben Metcalf steadies after character-building Ashington debut | OneFootball

Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Metcalf has put a bruising Ashington debut behind him and earned a Northern Ireland Under-21s call-up during his first loan spell.

As reported by Sunderland Echo, Ashington joint-interim manager Mark Ellison considered Metcalf’s start character-building. He said he initially took the 19-year-old out for the following fixture after consulting Sunderland’s Jonny Maddison to protect him. Ellison welcomed the international recognition and added that with six games left he expects to need two goalkeepers over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The academy graduate signed his first professional deal last summer after standout displays at Under-18s level. He stepped up to the Under-21s this season, starting a Premier League Cup win over Norwich City in October. Weeks later he made his Premier League 2 bow in a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Metcalf joined Northern Premier League East Division side Ashington last month, suffering an 8-0 debut defeat to newly crowned champions Redcar Athletic, then being named on the bench for a 2-1 loss to Emley days later. He responded with three successive clean sheets as he settled at Woodhorn Lane. His call-up meant he was not in the squad for Friday’s 3-0 defeat against Germany and he missed Ashington’s 1-0 loss to Dunston UTS.

Metcalf will hope to win his first Under-21s cap when Northern Ireland meet Latvia on Tuesday, before returning for Ashington’s trip to Hallam on Saturday.

Source: Sunderland Echo