Sunderland boss Mike Dodds has confirmed a fresh injury blow for his side.
When it rains, it pours for Sunderland.
Southampton dealt the Black Cats a sixth-straight defeat in the Championship on Saturday, with Dodds’ men lingering nine points above the drop zone ahead of a tricky game at home to QPR next weekend.
At St Mary’s, Sunderland found themselves two goals behind at the break, with the second being a controversial Adam Armstrong penalty.
Romaine Mundle pulled one back with his first ever senior goal before Jobe Bellingham curled one into the top corner from range.
But Joe Rothwell hit a quick double to seal a 4-2 win Southampton.
Mike Dodds confirms Dan Ballard injury blow for Sunderland
There were few positives to take from yesterday’s game and several negatives.
Sunderland lacked any real bite in attack but showed grit to get back on levels terms after the break, with the first hour in particular highlighting a lack of attacking quality in the side.
Another negative from the game was Dan Ballard‘s withdrawal in the second half; the big centre-back pulled up on the half-way line and tried to stay on, but was soon brought off.
And Dodds has now confirmed that the Northern Ireland international has suffered a hamstring injury, though the severity of it is not yet known.
Dodds told We Are Sunderland:
“Dan tried to play on, I don’t want to add any fuel to the fire because at this point I don’t actually know.
“He’s come off with a hamstring injury, which isn’t great. I don’t want to comment at the moment whether it is minor or major because he’ll come in and be assessed on Monday.
“He’s strapped at the moment and he’s OK within himself at the moment, he’s not overly panicked but we’ll have to see. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Sunderland facing defender crisis for QPR
Sunderland return to the Stadium of Light next weekend where they host QPR.
But Dodds now looks set to be without Ballard and he’ll also be without Luke O’Nien who is suspended, so it poses a bit of a problem in defence.
Jenson Seelt will no doubt keep his spot, and expect Trai Hume to be the man who Dodds moves into the middle, which could open up a chance for Timothee Pembele to get a rare start.
Hume is a dependable player and that softens the blow of losing Ballard. But not having Ballard in the team is a huge blow in itself.
He’s a dominant defender and gives the backline so much security and leadership, especially in the absence of O’Nien.
And then not having Hume at right-back is a cause for concern too, especially with Pembele inexperienced in the Championship.
So for Sunderland, it’s certainly a tough time right now, and a defeat against QPR could really pull the Black Cats into troubled waters.