Ben Metcalf rebounds from ‘character building’ Ashington debut with clean-sheet streak | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, Sunderland academy goalkeeper Ben Metcalf has rebounded from a bruising Ashington debut and settled quickly on loan. The 19-year-old is with Northern Premier League East Division side Ashington.

Metcalf signed his first professional deal last summer after standout Under-18s displays. He stepped into the Under-21s, starting a Premier League Cup win against Norwich City in October before a Premier League 2 debut in a 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.

He joined Ashington last month and endured an 8-0 home defeat to newly crowned champions Redcar Athletic on debut. Named on the bench for a 2-1 reverse against Emley days later, he then kept three consecutive clean sheets for the Woodhorn Lane club.

Joint-interim manager Mark Ellison viewed that debut as character building and considered resting him for Emley after speaking with Sunderland’s Jonny Maddison. With Matty Alexander injured, Metcalf seized his chance, settled in the dressing room and impressed quietly.

Metcalf earned a maiden Northern Ireland Under-21s call-up, although he was not named for Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Germany. The call-up meant he missed Ashington’s 1-0 loss to Dunston UTS, a game he wanted to play.

Ellison said he thinks Ashington will need two goalkeepers over the Bank Holiday weekend, with six games remaining. He will hope to win a first Under-21 cap when Northern Ireland face Latvia on Tuesday, before returning for Ashington’s trip to Hallam on Saturday.

Source: Sunderland Echo