Sunderland defender Dan Ballard was withdrawn from Northern Ireland’s UEFA Nations League clash due to injury.
Sunderland have suffered yet another injury fear amid the international break, this time with central defender Dan Ballard.
On Thursday evening, Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey went off injured for the Netherlands during their clash against Germany with a suspected hamstring injury.
Less than 24 hours later, potential disaster struck for the Black Cats once again, with centre-back Ballard forced off for Northern Ireland after suffering a suspected hamstring strain in their 1-0 win against Georgia.
In injury time, before Shea Charles’ last-second winner, with an assist from Sunderland full-back Trai Hume, Ballard stretched for a loose ball under pressure from Villarreal forward Georges Mikautadze and immediately held his right hamstring in distress.
After minutes of treatment from the Northern Ireland medical team, the Sunderland star was substituted for former Black Cat Paddy McNair, which now leaves Sunderland nervously awaiting the prognosis.
Losing one of his best defenders and his top goalscorer during the international break would be an unfathomable double injury blow for Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris to contend with heading into the next stage of the season.
On the surface, Ballard appeared to be in extreme agony as a result of the injury, and the untimely injury blow has come at an unfortunate moment in his Sunderland career.
Heading into the international break, Ballard was the best in the Premier League for duels won, with the former Arsenal prospect in fine form heading into what appeared to be his best season in a Sunderland shirt to date.
Sunderland's social media circles were awash with dismay when news emerged of Ballard’s late injury, and now Le Bris could be without one of his best centre-halves and star strikers for several weeks of Premier League and Europa League action.
Georgia's Georges Mikautadze in action with Northern Ireland's Daniel Ballard (REUTERS)Sunderland Have More Cover For Dan Ballard Than Brian Brobbey
Although the injury to Ballard would be a monumental blow for Sunderland given his excellent start to the season and his impact in both boxes for the Black Cats, Le Bris has several stellar options to cope with a potential period on the sidelines for the Northern Ireland international.
Kevin Danso has made a stellar start to his Sunderland career, with the Spurs loanee, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete the best three central defensive options for the Black Cats boss to utilise.
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However, an injury for Brobbey would leave just Wilson Isidor and 18-year-old prodigy Juan Riquelme Angulo as his two options in the goalscoring department.
As the domestic break continues, the Black Cats faithful will be dreading the several Sunderland stars featuring on international duty from suffering an injury, as will the inevitably worried Le Bris.
