Sunderland defender Dan Ballard has been ruled out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against Italy.
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard has been ruled out of Northern Ireland’s vital World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Italy on Thursday due to the hamstring injury he sustained during the Black Cats’ recent defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The centre-back was forced off during the second half of that contest, and subsequently missed out on Sunday’s Tyne-Wear Derby win over Newcastle United. Despite his absence, however, it had remained unclear as to whether Ballard would be fit enough to feature for Michael O’Neill’s national side in Bergamo later this week, having initially been included in Northern Ireland’s travelling cohort.
It has since been confirmed, however, that the Sunderland star will not be available, and has been replaced by 19-year-old Tom Atcheson in O’Neill’s 28-man squad. The teenager - who plays his club football at Blackburn Rovers, where O’Neill is currently interim head coach - is yet to make a senior international appearance, but has been a regular at various youth levels in recent years.
Ballard’s fitness setback is the latest blow for a Northern Ireland side who are already set to be without Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley and Preston North End defender Jamal Lewis for their clash with Italy. The winner of Thursday’s match will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
What has been said about Dan Ballard’s fitness situation?
Speaking during a press conference shortly after confirming his squad for this week’s play-off, O’Neill admitted that it was unclear as to the exact extent of Ballard’s injury issue.
He said: "There are a few injury problems. There were a few players who didn’t play for their club at the weekend, which is always a concern. Our medical team will liaise with the clubs to get clarity on those situations. We don’t know the exact extend of Daniel’s injury, he came off in the 64th minute - but we’re on top of all that. This is the nature of international football, these things are beyond your control. We’re without Conor Bradley and Jamal Lewis – who has just had ankle surgery – but other than that we are as strong as we possibly could be.
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"I know every player will do everything possible to try and be fit and available to play this game. We just have to keep our fingers crossed for the players that didn't play for their clubs at the weekend [that] there is still enough time. There is 10 days until the game now and hopefully that is enough to still be as strong as we want to be."
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