Dan Ballard has picked up yet another injury on international duty.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill confirmed that the defender had picked up a thigh niggle following their 3-0 win over San Marino at the weekend.
Ballard played the full 90 minutes in Belfast as he claimed the captain’s armband, but it wasn’t until the next day that he noticed the problem.
On Ballard, O’Neill said: “He woke up with a tightness in his thigh which we have just had to manage over the last 48 hours.
“It’s not like he was playing through something because obviously, we could have taken him off, but he didn’t alert us to anything. It is just something that has come on post-game.
“I think we have enough cover in our group. We have Eoin Toal, Trai Hume has played centre-half at his club and Shea Charles has played as centre-back as well.
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“I think we have enough in the squad without calling anyone up. I think what we might look to do is add someone from the Under-21 squad if Daniel doesn’t make it.”
Northern Ireland are due to host Slovenia tonight and Ballard will face a race against time to be fit for his third successive start for the national team.
Concern for Stoke City?
Sunderland fans will hope he makes the squad, otherwise there will be concern ahead of their trip to Stoke City at the weekend.
The 24-year-old has been one of the Black Cats’ best players this season and they will have to rely on the inexperienced Jenson Seelt if he is unable to face the Potters.
Sunderland have already been punished by the international break this year, with Ballard suffering a hamstring injury whilst playing for his country back in March. The defender was forced to sit out of the rest of the campaign. Meanwhile, Jewison Bennette spent a similar amount of time out of action when he dislocated his shoulder on duty with Costa Rica.
Fans are going to wish the players weren’t allowed to leave Wearside at this rate, with the club having terrible luck with injuries for years now.
