Brian Brobbey was the standout performer for Sunderland in their defeat to Manchester City.
Brian Brobbey was the standout performer for Sunderland in their defeat to Manchester City.(Image: (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images))
Brian Brobbey is expected to make a swift return from his hamstring injury after fears he would be out for months were allayed - but Dan Ballard faces a longer spell on the sidelines.
The two Sunderland stars both suffered hamstring injuries on international duty. However, they have different timescales on their returns, revealed manager Regis Le Bris.
Brobbey could actually be back in training next week, although the Black Cats' opening Europa League away game against Torreense next Thursday is likely to come too soon for him. However, he has a chance of being fit to face Bournemouth a week on Sunday.
It is a huge boost for Sunderland, who feared the worst when they saw their in-form frontman lying prone on the turf for the Netherlands against Germany, before limping from the field. He joins Habib Diarra in hoping to be fit soon, however.
Le Bris told reporters: "Brian is on the same schedule as Habib [Diarra]. They should be available soon.
“It was a shame for Brian to be injured, but it is just short term. It is really positive. We were a bit worried when we first saw the video. But just after the game, Brian wasn’t too worried because he has experienced different injuries in the past and he thought straightaway that this one wasn’t too serious. We won’t take any risks with him, but it shouldn’t be too long.”
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Brian Brobbey(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Ballard, however, is likely to miss at least a month. And with a busy period for the Black Cats on the domestic front and in Europe, that could mean them being without their centre-half for nine games before the next international break.
“It is a shame for Ballard because he was in a good place,” said Le Bris. “It is a medium-term injury. He is in a good place, we spoke this morning, but it is a shame for him.
“He will be available for the second part of the season, although we don’t know yet just when he will be back. It’s a shame because he was playing really well, but you have to accept the situation and go forward.”
A third hamstring victim is Diarra, but like Brobbey, he could be available for the Bournemouth clash. Saturday's home game against Brighton will be too son for the Senegal midfielder.
“He [Diarra] is really close," Le Bris told the Northern Echo. “He is in a good place. He has been able to do almost all of the sessions that are needed for a full recovery. Within around one week, he should be fully available.”
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