Sunderland called out amid Dan Ballard transfer panic
Sunderland are missing Dan Ballard through injury at the moment.
The promotion hero was taken off after eight minutes of Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat to Burnley on 23 August.
Ballard has emerged as a Sunderland hero in recent months, helping them secure a Premier League return and starring in the opening day win over West Ham.
Regis Le Bris will want him back as soon as possible, but may enter the transfer market to replace him.
Mackem News presents the exclusive opinion of iconic football commentator Ian Darke.
Sunderland do not need to replace Ballard
Ballard is expected to return for Sunderland after the international break, from the groin injury that he suffered against the fellow newly-promoted side.
Darke believes that the Black Cats do not need to enter the market for a replacement for Ballard, and does not understand the panic for a new Sunderland transfer like Jhon Lucumi or Axel Disasi.
Speaking exclusively to Mackem News, he said: “He’s just done his groin, hasn’t he, so I doubt he will be out that long.
“Do you have to keep rushing to the market? They have got that Dutch kid Jenson Seelt; they have bought 12 players already, and they brought in Omar Alderete already.
“Unless they hear that Ballard will be really long-term, but his groin could only be a few weeks, but I don’t know what the Sunderland physios or anyone is saying about how long he will be out for.
“It’s not like he has done his cruciate, where he is out for the season, I think if it is a long-term one, they need to replace him in the squad, if they think he is back in a few weeks, they can make do with what they have got.”
Ballard’s injury history is concerning for Sunderland
There will be some concern about Ballard’s injury record at the Stadium of Light.
Ballard’s injury record
- 25/26 – Knee injury – 1 game missed (so far)
- 24/25 – Hamstring injury – 12 games missed
- 24/25 – Muscle injury – 4 games missed
- 24/25 – Ankle injury – 9 games missed
- 24/25 – Knee injury – 5 games missed
- 22/23 – Hamstring injury – 12 games missed
- 22/23 – Broken foot – 23 games missed
Since Ballard joined the Wearside outfit in 2022, he has missed a total of 66 matches, and that shows that he cannot be relied upon.
However, Darke may have a point. The Black Cats have already signed Alderete and Nordi Mukiele, and they may be better served spending elsewhere.
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