Northern Ireland boss issues Dan Ballard injury return timeframe hope as Sunderland await scan results

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill hopes Sunderland defender Dan Ballard will return by the November international window following a suspected hamstring injury. The 27-year-old sustained the issue in added time during Northern Ireland's 1-0 victory against Georgia on Friday and subsequently left the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena on crutches.

Ballard has returned to Sunderland, where the club's medical staff will evaluate the extent of the damage via scan results. He has already been ruled out of upcoming international fixtures against Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia.