Dan Ballard, a defender for SUNDERLAND, has caused Michael O’Neill further injury problems after reporting for duty with Northern Ireland while still injured from the weekend.
Ballard, who was absent due to injury from O’Neill’s squad in June, is now questionable for the away doubleheader against Slovenia and Kazakhstan after suffering an unexplained injury in Sunderland’s 5-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
After the team convened in Ljubljana, O’Neill noted, “We have an injury concern with Daniel, but everyone else came through the weekend unscathed.”
The players are excited for their upcoming matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan, and the camp is in a high mood.
O’Neill was already missing a number of key players by the time of Shayne Lavery and Dale Taylor’s forced absence from duty late last week. These players were Sunderland midfielder Corry Evans, Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Jamal Lewis, and Shane Ferguson.
Prior to the weekend, Brodie Spencer was also called up as backup along with Jordan Jones and Eoin Toal
Naturally, I’m unhappy that Shayne and Dale are out due to injuries, said O’Neill.
This season, they have both been playing quite well. But I think the attackers on our team are more than capable of scoring for us.
Josh Magennis and Dion Charles both scored at the weekend for their respective clubs, and Conor Washington has been doing well for his new team.
“The three players we’ve added will give us additional alternatives in midfield and defense.
“Jordan (Jones) has recovered from an injury that prevented him from joining Wigan’s squad at the beginning of the season, while Eoin is back in the Bolton defense after missing some games due to injury, and Brodie is adjusting well at Motherwell,” the statement continued.
With three points from their first four qualifiers, O’Neill’s team is currently in fifth place in Group H. On Thursday, they play Slovenia in Ljubljana, and on Sunday, they travel to Astana to play Kazakhstan.
