Name of the game is goals and assists

Goals and assists.

You can almost imagine it as a mantra, not only for Jai Ingham, but all of the forwards and attacking midfielders in the All Whites squad for the Intercontinental Cup in India, which begins for them against Kenya on Sunday [2.30am NZT].

The Melbourne Victory player has been called up for the second time, and will be looking to make one of the two wide spots in coach Fritz Schmid’s attacking midfield trio his own, by delivering where it matters most.

Ingham was first called up last March, under Anthony Hudson, alongside his brother Dane, a defender. Dane went on to become a regular for the rest of Hudson’s tenure, which ended last November, while Jai wasn’t seen again, until now.

Schmid has given him a chance to show what he’s got, and the 24-year-old is eager to take it, full of confidence after an A-League campaign that ended with the Victory winning the grand final three weeks ago.

‘‘I’m just here to do what he says and try to impress and hopefully I get a few goals and assists because that’s what I’m up there for, in that wing position,’’ Ingham said.

‘‘It’s always good to have new mindset. It will be a good experience and we can’t wait for India, y’know? [At least] three tough games, they’ll all be very, very good teams, and I have no doubt that with the team we have, we’ll give them a good hit.’’

Assist stats are hard to come by, but Ingham has scored just three goals in 58 competitive appearances for Melbourne Victory, though it’s worth noting that in 40 of those he came off the bench. However, even with that considered, he is still averaging 698 minutes per goal for them.

Those selected for the Intercontinental Cup – more than a dozen notable players are absent, for a variety of reasons – have only managed three international goals between them. They were scored by Myer Bevan, last year against the Solomon Islands, and Tim Payne, who netted a brace against the same opponents five years ago.

With Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas and Ryan Thomas contenders for those wide attacking midfield spots in a fullstrength All Whites squad, Ingham and the others stepping in know they have to deliver if they are to return down the line.

‘‘In any football team you’re in, they always want goal scorers,’’ he said. ‘‘Goals or assists, it doesn’t worry me as long as we’re winning and we have a good performance.’’