The Black Cats are anxiously awaiting news on the condition of one of their key players.
Tonight, Sunderland will face off against Leicester City in the Championship, but it appears they may be missing a crucial member of their first-team lineup. Manager Tony Mowbray could be without several players who are currently sidelined due to injuries, including Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Eliezer Mayenda, Timothee Pembele, Jay Matete, and Corry Evans. However, it seems that they may not be the only ones facing time off the pitch.
Daniel Ballard, who plays for Northern Ireland, suffered a knock during the international break and was unable to play in his country’s final game. Concerns rose among fans, but Ballard returned to domestic action and started in Saturday’s match against Stoke City. Despite completing the full game, it appears that his quick return may have had negative consequences as he now seems to have suffered a setback in his fitness.
In a pre-match press conference on Monday, Mowbray provided an injury update on Ballard, revealing that the defender may not be available for tonight’s game against Leicester. Mowbray stated, “We have four or five players not training today that we hope are going to play tomorrow. Lots of knocks and niggles. Tight muscles and dead legs. We will conduct fitness tests and see who is fit for tomorrow. Dan Ballard is one of the players who hasn’t trained, and we have to see if he passes a fitness test tomorrow.”
Journalist Josh Bunting considers Ballard an “immense” player for Sunderland, and he has made a strong impression this season. Losing him would be a significant blow for Mowbray, as Ballard’s towering 6-foot-1 presence has been instrumental in the team’s defense, averaging 4.3 clearances and 2.8 aerial wins per game in the Championship. Additionally, Ballard has shown his ability to contribute in attack with 13 goals, four assists, and 17 final third contributions throughout his career.
Mowbray will undoubtedly be hoping to have his star defender available for the match against Enzo Maresca’s side, as Ballard’s presence both in defense and attack is invaluable to the team.
