Tony Mowbray gives Dan Ballard fitness update ahead of crucial Watford clash

Sunderland are dealing with a defensive injury crisis, and it seems Dan Ballard will not be back to solve it against Watford.

Sunderland are unlikely to be able to call upon central defender Dan Ballard for the last two games of the season.

Ballard has been one of Sunderland’s most impressive performers this season but he is currently out with a hamstring injury that he picked up on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Mowbray has previously suggested that Ballard could return for the last two games of the season, especially if Sunderland were in contention to secure a play-off place. They go into the final two games of the campaign in sixth place, so is a Ballard return now a possibility?

Apparently, it’s not going to happen against Watford, but Mowbray is ruling nothing out after that.

Asked whether Ballard being back for the final two games was still a possibility, Mowbray said: "That one has probably backtracked a little bit, if I'm honest," he added on Ballard.

"He hasn't been able to train this week, he had been jogging and feeling a lot better and we thought he might be able to get on the grass - but that hasn't been the case.

"I don't know the answer beyond the two games, to be honest. My mentality at the moment is that he's not available for this one. He'd have train for two or three days having been out for a few weeks if he was to give himself a chance for the last one, and my hope is that we keep a clean sheet and defend really well for this one and then even if he's fit, I have a decision to make about whether we'd even want to change it.

"We'll just take it day by day with Dan, we've had times where it's felt alright and it's felt as if he can push on, and then days where its a bit sore. It's a daily thing at the moment.

"It's not a long-term thing, and if we were to extend the season by a couple of games then there's every chance he'd be able to play a part."

While Sunderland's existing lengthy injury list has not been added ahead of the crucial Watford clash, the good news is that it has not got any worse either. 

"We're not expecting anybody back but no one [else] is out either, so I don't think it will be too far away from the choices we had at West Brom" Mowbray said.

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