Dan Ballard injury update emerges after shock Sunderland absence vs Leeds
Sunderland are set to be without Dan Ballard for several weeks.
Sunderland welcome Leeds to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, with hopes of extending their unbeaten home run.
However, when Regis Le Bris named his starting 11, fans were quick to notice a concerning omission from the squad, alongside a severe lack of depth.
That omission is in the form of Ballard, who suffered an injury ahead of the game, with a timeline now revealed for his return.
Sunderland could be without Ballard until February
Ballard has been immense for Sunderland this season, and there is a case for him being one of the best-performing defenders in the Premier League.
His influence at both ends of the pitch has been crucial, and whether Sunderland can deal with his absence against an in-form Leeds side remains to be seen.
Fans were left hoping it was a cautionary absence, but a report from the BBC suggests otherwise.
Via X, it’s claimed that the Northern Ireland international could now face up to five weeks out, with speculation that he has suffered an Achilles injury.
If that were to be the case, Ballard could miss as many as seven Premier League fixtures, with a busy January period ahead.
As reported by Andy Sixsmith on X, Regis Le Bris claimed it was a late call for Ballard to miss the game, with a clear diagnosis expected on Monday.
Sunderland’s depth now set to be put to the test
Ballard’s absence means that Nordi Mukiele has moved into a central role, with Dennis Cirkin coming in at left back.
On the face of it, that doesn’t seem overly concerning, but it now leaves Le Bris with just three centre-back options, with Luke O’Nien also suspended.
Jenson Seelt departed on loan in the summer, while Lutsharel Geertruida has also been forced to step into a midfield role in the absence of Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra.
The Black Cats were already expected to be busy in the January transfer window, and they may have just added a centre-back to their list of targets.
Jhon Lucumi was heavily linked in the summer, and it would not be a surprise at all to see those rumours resurface on the back of such a blow in the form of Ballard.
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