Ben Metcalf shows resilience after Ashington setback, earns Northern Ireland Under-21 call-up | OneFootball

Sunderland academy goalkeeper Ben Metcalf has bounced back from a chastening Ashington debut to impress on loan and earn a Northern Ireland Under-21s call-up.

Sunderland Echo reports that Ashington joint-interim boss Mark Ellison described the 19-year-old’s first outing as “character building” after an 8-0 defeat to Redcar Athletic, and praised his response.

Metcalf signed his first professional deal last summer after impressing at Under-18s level. He stepped up to Sunderland’s Under-21s this season, starting a Premier League Cup win over Norwich City in October, then a Premier League 2 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

He joined Northern Premier League East Division side Ashington last month. After the Redcar setback, he was on the bench for a 2-1 loss to Emley before returning to keep three successive clean sheets.

His progress brought a maiden Northern Ireland Under-21s call-up, although he was not involved in Friday’s 3-0 loss to Germany. The call-up meant he missed Ashington’s 1-0 defeat to Dunston UTS, with Ellison noting the loanee had been keen to play and had impressed during his recent run.

Metcalf hopes to make his Under-21s debut against Latvia on Tuesday before returning for Ashington’s trip to Hallam on Saturday. Ellison said that with six games remaining, he thinks they will need two goalkeepers, especially over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Source: Sunderland Echo