Talksport presenter Michael Gray has called for England boss Thomas Tuchel to call up Sunderland star Dan Ballard, who has already played 32 times for Northern Ireland
Talksport presenter Michael Gray has called for England boss Thomas Tuchel to call up Sunderland star Dan Ballard, who has already played 32 times for Northern Ireland
Talksport presenter and former Sunderland star Michael Gray has demanded that Thomas Tuchel calls defender Dan Ballard into the England squad…even though the centre back has already played 32 times for Northern Ireland.
Ballard was superb for Sunderland on Saturday, as the Black Cats held Premier League leaders to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. The powerful defender scored a goal, provided an assist and made a goal-saving block in injury time.
On Sunday morning, former left-back Gray said on his radio show: “Sometimes in your career it takes a moment and I think if you go back to the semi-finals of the play offs against Coventry last season, and the final, I think that was his [Ballard's] moment," said Gray.
“He's not looked back since. You talk about grabbing the Premier League with both hands and he's done that.
“This is a late shout and it might be going a little over the top but we haven't got too many centre-halves in our country. Has he left it too late? Because I think his performances deserve an England call-up.”
Sunderland's manager Peter Reid walks off the pitch with Michael Gray after his missed the crucial penalty in the 1998 Division One Play-Off Final against Charlton Athletic
Sunderland's manager Peter Reid walks off the pitch with Michael Gray after his missed the crucial penalty in the 1998 Division One Play-Off Final against Charlton Athletic
Unfortunately for the former England international, Ballard is a well-established Northern Ireland international with 32 caps and five goals for his country.
The 26 year-old is expected to play in this month’s crucial World Cup Qualifiers with Slovakia and Luxembourg, with Michael O’Neill’s team on the brink of securing a spot in March’s Play-Offs.
Ballard was born and raised in Stevenage, but qualifies to play for Northern Ireland as his mother hails from the province.
He made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw against Romania in 2020, having previously turned out for Northern Ireland at U-19 and U-21 level.
Ballard was praised by Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Theo Walcott, following his superb display on Saturday afternoon.
Former Celtic man Gray also hailed Ballard’s display. He added: “I've got to say I think the block itself epitomises him and his performances this season,” he added.
“It's wonderful that he's coming up with a few goals, and his goal was absolutely outstanding. But I think defending is becoming a bit of a dying art with no contact football.”
Gray, 51, played over 300 times for Sunderland, earning one cap for England. He also played for Celtic, Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday.