The much-anticipated Tees-Wear derby is just around the corner, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris simply has to reintroduce one player to his starting lineup for the first time in over a month.
Sunderland will be looking to recover from the disappointing draw to Plymouth Argyle last weekend while also securing an important victory against a local rival and a fellow promotion contender on Monday night.
Regis Le Bris admitted his side were ‘lucky’ to escape with a point from the last game, with glaring issues all over the field for the Black Cats.
Now, with Middlesbrough posing a stronger threat, Le Bris will have to think long and hard about the way he sets his team up and which players he leans on.
Dan Ballard has to come into the starting lineup vs Middlesbrough
One player we expect and hope will be in the Sunderland starting XI for Monday’s game is Dan Ballard. The centre-half hasn’t started a game since the 21st December due to injury, but has featured briefly as a substitute in the last three matches.
With Sunderland showing rare signs of defensive frailty on Saturday, and Middlesbrough having players truly capable of hurting the Black Cats, the solid, more athletic presence of Ballard will be much-needed.
In 15 games this season, Ballard has been a formidable presence at the back for Sunderland. He wins 0.52 tackles per game, and makes 0.73 interceptions per 90, but his most impressive attribute is his calmness and ability to read the game, with 4.79 clearances per 90.
| Statistics | Dan Ballard (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Tackles won/90 | 0.52 |
| Interceptions/90 | 0.73 |
| Clearances/90 | 4.79 |
| Pass completion | 88% |
He’s also a competent ball-playing defender, which Sunderland will need against Middlesbrough, especially away from home. If Le Bris is able to get his team playing their standard, slick football, utilising the ball intelligently from the back will be key to making the most of possession.
- READ MORE: Regis Le Bris admits Sunderland have one ‘unpredictable’ problem ahead of Middlesbrough clash
Will Regis Le Bris drop Chris Mepham after nightmare vs Plymouth?
So, we’ve established why Dan Ballard is ‘absolute quality’, but who does he replace? The obvious answer would be Chris Mepham.
After such a strong season, Mepham was really disappointing versus Plymouth, and looks the most likely to lose his place if Le Bris does decide to make changes.
Neither Mepham nor Luke O’Nien possess the kind of pace and dynamism that Ballard brings to the team, but the latter does have a slight edge given his length of service at Sunderland and his innate knowledge of just what this fixture means.
Ballard’s physicality and technical abilities make him a no-brainer for the game, so it will be interesting to see who Le Bris pairs him with now.