A big Dan Ballard news for Sunderland AFC ahead of Middlesbrough.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has confirmed that Dan Ballard will be available for Saturday’s match against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats’ center-back was expected to miss the game due to an injury, but it appears he will play this weekend.
Le Bris’ side’s good start to the season was halted last time out, when they were defeated 3-2 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
Following the game, Ballard left on crutches, raising questions about his future availability for the team.
However, it appears like the 24-year-old will be out for only a short time as a result of the setback.
Regis Le Bris provides Sunderland a fitness update.
Ballard, who missed the first few weeks of the season due to injury, has just returned to action with the Black Cats.
He also appeared for Northern Ireland during the September international break and played the entire 90 minutes at Plymouth last weekend.
There may have been some anxiety with Ballard leaving the game on crutches, but it looks that was more a case of not taking chances with the centre-back.
Sunderland will be without Alan Browne for the match with Boro. The midfielder, who was seen wearing a leg brace earlier this week, played the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s game.
However, while the Irishman will miss Saturday’s game, it appears he will not be out for long.
Le Bris stated on his club’s official X account that Dan Ballard is expected to be OK for the upcoming encounter. Alan Browne will require an additional week…”
Despite the setback to Plymouth, Sunderland has had a solid start to the season thus far.
The Black Cats have won all four of their other league games, so they are second in the early Championship rankings heading into the weekend.
| Sunderland 2024/25 Championship record – as of 19th September 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opposition | Result |
| 10/08/24 | Cardiff City (A) | Won 2-0 |
| 18/08/24 | Sheffield Wednesday (H) | Won 4-0 |
| 24/08/24 | Burnley (H) | Won 1-0 |
| 31/08/24 | Portsmouth (A) | Won 3-1 |
| 14/09/24 | Plymouth Argyle (A) | Lost 3-2 |
Double fitness upgrade is a boost for the Black Cats.
The new information on Ballard and Browne’s fitness and availability will likely be welcomed by Sunderland supporters.
Ballard has been an important player in the Black Cats’ middle of defense in recent years, and they will not want to be without him for long.
Indeed, he has already struggled with fitness since transferring to the Stadium of Light, and missing him for a lengthy period of time would have been disappointing.
Browne, meanwhile, has had a decent start to his Sunderland career this season, providing some valuable experience and depth in the heart of the park.
With that in mind, it does feel like a bonus for the Black Cats that he won’t be out for long, guaranteeing they can continue to rely on his impact in the future.
Sunderland has received an encouraging fitness update ahead of their match against Middlesbrough.
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