SUNDERLAND’s medical staff will meet with the Northern Ireland hierarchy to discuss how to manage Dan Ballard’s workload over the
upcoming international break.
Ballard has missed Sunderland’s previous two games against Watford and Derby after injuring his ankle late in last month’s defeat at
Plymouth, and he is unlikely to play tomorrow night’s home game against Leeds United.
However, the centre-back was nominated to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header
against Belarus and Bulgaria earlier today, and he is expected to join his national team at the start of next week.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris admits it is a concern, and the club’s medical specialists will meet with O’Neill and his coaching staff
in the coming days to assess Ballard’s situation.
“It (Ballard’s situation) is still a little grey, I can say,” added Le Bris, whose team enters their televised encounter against Leeds at the top
of the Championship table. “We are just in the middle of figuring it out.”
“He could play (for Northern Ireland), but I believe he needs to rehabilitate thoroughly. If we do not take precautions, his ankle problem
could become dangerous. He could play with extremely heavy strapping, but you know there’s a possibility of injury.
“It’s difficult to handle the international break, but if we can get the player in peak condition, it will benefit everyone in the long run. We
will talk together to figure out the best way.”
Sunderland will also be without Ian Poveda tomorrow evening, after the summer signing sustained a groin injury while coming on as a
substitute in the closing moments of Tuesday’s victory over Derby.
The condition has been inspected in recent days, and Poveda, who signed as a free agent earlier this summer after spending the second
half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, is expected to miss at least the next month.
“For Ian, it is still too early for the full diagnosis, but I think it is going to be a long injury, maybe four or six weeks,” Le Bris told reporters.
“It’s a shame because he’s highly involved in his progression and training style.
“But the championship is long; we still have 38 games to go. Ian will aid the team, but he will need time to heal.”
Eliezer Mayenda will be absent again tomorrow, having failed to recover from the muscular ailment that has kept him out of the last two
games.
Wilson Isidor will continue to lead the line in Mayenda’s absence, having scored in his previous two games against Watford and Derby.
Chris Mepham suffered a knock late in the Derby victory, but he will be able to accompany Luke O’Nien in the back four against Leeds
United.
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