Crewe Alexandra
Born in Liverpool, Ng was in Crewe Alexandra's youth system for ten years before signing his first professional contract for two years on 14 May 2014. [3] On 1 November 2014, he had his first inclusion in a matchday squad, remaining an unused substitute in a 1–1 draw at Crawley Town in League One. [4]
On 30 January 2015, Ng was loaned for a month to Hyde United of the Conference North. [5] He made his senior debut on 7 February, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–3 home loss to Boston United. [6] Ng twice extended his loan for the struggling team, [7] eventually for the remainder of the season. [8] He totalled 13 appearances, all starts, as they ended the season bottom of the table, and scored his first senior goal on 14 March, a last-minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Harrogate Town at Ewen Fields. [9]
On 27 November 2015, Ng made his debut for Crewe, coming on in added time in place of Ryan Colclough in a 1–0 win over Oldham Athletic at Gresty Road. [10] He made Crewe's starting XI for the first time on 5 May 2016 against Burton Albion at Gresty Road.
On 22 May 2017, Ng signed a new one-year deal, including an option for a further 12 months depending on appearances. [11] He was sent off for two bookings in 17 minutes on 12 August in a 1–1 home draw with Newport County. [12] Four weeks later, on 9 September 2017, he scored his first Crewe goal in a 5–1 win over Chesterfield at Gresty Road. [13]
On 3 January 2018, Ng was retrospectively suspended for four games following an off-the-ball clash with Cambridge United's Jabo Ibehre in a match at the Abbey Stadium on 30 December 2017. [14] Ng's left-footed strike at Stevenage on 10 March 2018 was named the League Two Goal of the Month winner for March. [15]
Ng was Crewe's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year for 2018–19, with manager David Artell praising his consistency despite not scoring a goal all season. [16] The following season (2019–20), Ng helped Crewe to automatic promotion to EFL League One in a campaign shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was widely selected by regional football journalists in their "League Two team of the season (so far)". [17] In September 2020, he (along with Crewe team-mate Charlie Kirk) was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year for the 2019–20 season. [18]
Ng was suspended for six matches following a breach of FA Rule E1 (spitting) after an FA Cup tie at Cheltenham Town on 28 November 2020. [19] [20]
Cardiff City
In early January 2021, Artell rejected an initial offer for Ng, reportedly £250,000, [21] from Championship side Cardiff City. [22] On 19 January, the transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was confirmed; [23] the BBC reported Cardiff would pay Crewe an initial £350,000, which could rise to £500,000, and would keep the player until the summer of 2024. [24] He made his debut the next day in a 1–0 home defeat against Queens Park Rangers. [25]
Ng was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in Cardiff's opening game of the 2022–23 season, a 1–0 home victory against Norwich City on 30 July 2022. [26] He scored his first goal for the club on 13 September in a 3–2 win at Middlesbrough. [27] In December 2022, Blackpool striker Gary Madine was accused of deliberately stamping on Ng, but faced no FA action as he had been cautioned by the referee. [28] On 4 March 2023, after Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was sent off in the 90th minute of their match against Bristol City, Ng took over in goal for the final minutes, keeping a clean sheet. [29] Ng was Cardiff's 'Player of the Year' and Players' Player of the Year for the 2022–23 campaign. [30]
On 24 August 2023, Ng signed a new three-year deal to keep him at Cardiff until the summer of 2026. [31] Ng's performances throughout the 2023–24 season again earned him Cardiff's 'Player of the Year' and 'Players' Player of the Year' awards; he was Cardiff's top scorer with 6 goals and manager Erol Bulut said he expected offers from other clubs. [32]
