Football: INGHAM'S RUSTY EXCUSE.

MICHAEL Ingham pleads guilty to spilling a goal - plus a couple of points - on his Cliftonville return.

But the 19-year-old keeper, on loan from Sunderland, deserves a pardon. When he appeared at Ballymena Showgrounds, it was his first competitive match in seven months.

As third and sometimes fourth choice at Sunderland, young giant Michael has been doing more shopping than saving on Saturdays.

"That's why I jumped at the chance of three months back in my old jersey," he says. "There was an option to join Lincoln City instead but they were only offering reserve games." Michael still trains all week with Sunderland and doesn't see weekend trips to Belfast as any kind of setback.

The teenager has extra incentive to impress on home turf. "Roy Millar, the manager of Northern Ireland's Under-21 team, has told me I will be watched. It would be brilliant to get into the squad. So far, I've had one call up but didn't get on the pitch."

Michael sees a big difference in the Cliftonville side he left a year ago.

"Marty Quinn's team was much more experienced but I admired the football younger players produced at Ballymena. The influence of Mal Donaghy's coaching is showing."

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	Sunday Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Aug 20, 2000
Words:	202
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