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Micky Gray made an awkward slip by backing Dan Ballard for England selection on TalkSport
The suggestion came from TalkSport presenter and former Sunderland favourite Micky Gray, who praised Ballard’s extraordinary rise on Wearside and claimed his form has reached international-class levels.
Speaking on his Sunday morning show, Gray said: “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. He's not looked back since. You talk about grabbing the Premier League with both hands and he's done that.”
Ballard has indeed established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout defenders this season under Régis Le Bris, scoring on his top-flight debut, producing a series of dominant displays at the Stadium of Light and thriving in Sunderland’s aggressive, front-foot style.
Gray went one step further, questioning whether England boss Tuchel should consider selecting the Arsenal academy graduate despite his Northern Ireland caps. “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.”
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Ballard, born in England but eligible for Northern Ireland through his mother, has been a regular for the Green and White Army since making his senior debut in 2020. FIFA regulations mean he cannot switch to England, having played competitive internationals. Ballard joined the club in June 2022 from Arsenal, signing a three-year deal. He scored his first goal for the Black Cats against QPR in September 2023 before signing a new long-term contract in July 2024 to keep him on Wearside until 2028.
His role in Sunderland’s promotion was iconic: the extra-time winner over Coventry in the play-off semi-final, followed by a colossal performance at Wembley as Sunderland beat Sheffield United to secure a Premier League return. Since then, the Premier League stage has only elevated him further. Ballard scored on his top-flight debut in the 3–0 win at West Ham and has become a cornerstone of Le Bris’ side. The defender scored and assisted against Arsenal and also produced an amazing block to preserve the draw last Saturday at the Stadium of Light.
Gray’s on-air mix-up quickly exploded across social media, with his words spreading rapidly among Sunderland fans and Northern Ireland supporters alike. Within minutes of the broadcast, users were pointing out that Ballard already has more than 30 caps for Northern Ireland, making Gray’s call for an England selection impossible. What began as praise for Ballard’s form soon became a viral talking point, highlighting just how fast these slip-ups travel.
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