With Ian Bennett being persuaded that sitting on the bench at Birmingham City was a good career move, Micky Adams turned his attention to the Northern Irish keeper.
Ingham told The Journal: "If I am honest, I never thought I would play for Sunderland again. "I thought my chance had gone.
"I was supposed to leave on transfer deadline day and I had a move to Coventry lined up but the gaffer pulled the plug because Mart Poom was injured and he wanted me as cover."