View: Dan Ballard has perfect opportunity to catch the eye of Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris
Dan Ballard has found himself dropped to the Sunderland bench since returning from injury but the international break provides him with an opportunity to impress Regis Le Bris.
Chris Mepham stepped up in Ballard's absence and has since become an undroppable figure at the Stadium of Light alongside Luke O'Nien.
With Trai Hume suspended for the Black Cats' post-international break clash with Millwall, Ballard may find himself drafted back into the starting 11.
Ballard's call-up to represent Northern Ireland provides him with an excellent opportunity to impress Le Bris and stake a claim for his place in the side.
Dan Ballard Sunderland exit is a possibility
With the former Arsenal man now finding himself the third choice at Sunderland, there is a possibility that he could be swayed by the idea of leaving the club in January.
A report from the Sunday Mirror (27 October) linked Ballard with a move to Wolves and if game time is going to be limited, there is every possibility he could explore them options.
With that said Sunderland should be doing everything to keep him. While Mepham and O'Nien have formed a remarkable partnership at the back, Ballard is still a top defender at Championship level and his experience in the division could be crucial going forward.
Not only that, but Sunderland are finding themselves in the middle of an injury crisis with Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle joining a long list of injured stars. If the Black Cats were to cash in on the defender, it would significantly weaken the depth that they have defensively.
Another key thing to consider is that Mepham could have a recall clause in his loan contract that Bournemouth could utilise in January and losing the pair would be detrimental to their promotion hopes.
In other Sunderland news, Jobe Bellingham is being lined up by Borussia Dortmund in a potential £20million swoop.
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