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Sunderland are heading into the Championship play-offs this month with multiple long-term absentees returning from the treatment table.
Sunderland face Queens Park Rangers on the 2024/25 Championship final day this afternoon, with their place in the upcoming play-offs campaign booked.
Regis Le Bris’ side head into the visit of managerless QPR, amid Marti Cifuentes’ gardening leave chaos, on the back of four defeats in a row before Saturday’s round of fixtures.
If the Black Cats are to achieve play-offs success, and turn the tide on their worrying record in the competition, Le Bris will need his squad to have a full bill of health and be able to call on any available players.
Le Bris has revealed one crucial Sunderland star is set to return from the sidelines for the play-off semi-finals.
Dan Ballard set to return to Sunderland squad for clash vs Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland central-defender Dan Ballard will make a timely return to Le Bris’ squad on the Championship final day, for the clash against QPR, and is in contention for a starting role in the approaching play-off double-header.
25-year-old Ballard has been absent since suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-0 home defeat against Hull City in February, but has recently returned to full training with his Black Cats teammates, and will be given gametime by Le Bris today as their regular second tier season curtails on home soil.
Recent displays in the 1-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers, and most recently in the 2-0 defeat at Oxford United, exposed the Black Cats’ backline’s soft underbelly when defending set-pieces and Ballard’s dominant physical presence will be imperative to remedy this issue in the play-offs.
Via the Sunderland Echo, Le Bris explained: “Dan will follow the same plan as Dennis (Cirkin) did at Oxford.
“He’ll probably play the last part of the game, around 30-35 minutes. After that, because the way he trained the last couple of weeks was really good, he showed that he wants to play.
“For the squad, for the staff, it’s really important to have all our players available. He should be available at that level.”
| Dan Ballard |
| Games played – 19 (12 starts) |
| Goals + assists – 3 |
| Yellow cards – 3 |
| Pass accuracy – 88.1% |
| Aeriel duels win rate – 72.3% |
Looking ahead to selection for the semi-finals, Le Bris outlined that Ballard could be in line to start in the season-defining fixtures, with the Sunderland boss’ selection dictated partly by the opposition they face.
Le Bris added: “The line-up for the play-offs will be connected with the opponent, probably, and if we have more options, it’s better than less options.
“For me, it’s important for the squad to show that they are ready, and after that, make the decision with the best option before the game.
“After that, for sure, we’ll have two games to play, so different scenarios, different options, different opportunities, and different problems to solve.”
Le Bris is boosted not only by the return of centre-back Ballard, but has also confirmed two more crucial Sunderland stars return to full training following the QPR clash, and will be amongst the play-offs squad.
Regis Le Bris shares ‘really good’ injury updates for Sunderland duo
Left-winger Romaine Mundle has been one of Sunderland’s most productive attackers this term, notching seven goal contributions in just 17 starts, but his gametime has been blighted by persistent hamstring injuries which has sidelined the 22-year-old for half of the Championship season.
Of Mundle, Le Bris said: “Romaine (Mundle) won’t be available this weekend because we don’t want to rush the process, but he will train with us from Sunday.”
Versatile defender Aji Alese started the season in stellar form under Le Bris, but a broken leg suffered in the FA Cup clash loss against Stoke City back in January seemingly curtailed his campaign.
Alese was expeted to miss the remainder of the campaign, but has worked his way back to full-fitness before the play-offs, and will also return to full training following the QPR clash alongside Mundle.
Le Bris concluded: “Aji (Alese) is the same – He worked really hard to be back. It’s really a surprise for me, because after the injury, it was clear for me that it should have been a long period to recover properly.
“But he was really positive, worked well and it’s really good for us to have Aji with us.”