Dan Ballard is an injury doubt for Northern Ireland’s match against Slovenia.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Michael O’Neill confirmed that the defender could miss today’s match.
Sunderland fans were left concerned at the weekend as Ballard received treatment after he went down during the 5-0 hammering of Southampton.
The 23-year-old looked like he could be forced off the pitch, but was instead able to continue in Sunderland’s backline.
While it looked like Ballard hadn’t been too affected by the injury heading into the international break, O’Neill has now revealed that the Northern Ireland international initially stayed in Sunderland to aid his recovery.
Is Dan Ballard available for Northern Ireland?
“We left Daniel in the UK, he went back to Sunderland to be assessed and joined up with us on Tuesday,” O’Neill said.
“He is still an injury doubt but we had to make a call based on his fitness.
“If this game (against Slovenia) is too soon he has a greater chance of playing in the second game.”
Ballard could earn his 16th international cap if he features in the national team’s EURO qualifier against Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Despite being born in Stevenage, Ballard has come up through the ranks with Northern Ireland and is now a regular for the international side.
The centre-back was also joined by Trai Hume, who made his international debut in a friendly defeat against Hungary in March 2022 – three months before Ballard arrived on Wearside.
Hume will be eager to add to his four caps tonight after starting in Northern Ireland’s previous two matches against Kazakhstan and Denmark.