Sunderland defender Dan Ballard missed the last three games of the season due to suspension
Sunderland are hopeful that Dan Ballard will be fit for the club's pre-season campaign after undergoing ankle surgery.
Ballard was spotted on crutches on Sunday afternoon as he joined his Sunderland team mates on the Stadium of Light pitch to celebrate the club's seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification. The defender had been ruled out of the final three games of the Premier League campaign after being shown a controversial red card for violent conduct at Wolves, with the referee ruling him to have pulled the hair of Tolu Arokodare after a VAR review. While that was a major blow for the defender, it has provided the opportunity for him to have surgery and allow for a period of recovery before Sunderland reconvene for what will be a vital campaign next time around.
The defender will be assessed over the coming weeks but at this stage the club are hopeful that the issue will not prevent him being ready for the new campaign. Though Sunderland have at times battled a lengthy injury list this season, Régis Le Bris's squad has been near full strength in recent weeks as the team ended a stellar campaign on a high. Romaine Mundle has been the only long-term absentee due to a hamstring injury, with Sunderland opting to take a cautious approach and focus on having him ready to play a full part in pre-season. As it stands, he remains on track to do exactly that.
Simon Moore has also been sidelined of late with a broken hand, but will remain at the club next season with the club understood to have already triggered their one-year extension option in his contract.
Enzo Le Fée: Signs are good for next season
A number of the Sunderland squad will soon head out to represent their country at the World Cup, with Enzo Le Fée hopeful they'll return ready for a huge campaign on Wearside.
"I think we have to rest properly," Le Fée said.
"There are some guys who have to go to the World Cup, so I wish them all the best and I hope they're going to be fit when they're going to come back. And yeah, we've got the pre-season to prepare for the next season well. And I think we've prepared for the next season already, the last few games.
"So I hope we're going to have a good time next season."
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