Ballard set to miss Northern Ireland’s Italy play-off

Dan Ballard is set to miss Northern Ireland’s crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy on Thursday because of a hamstring injury.

The Sunderland defender was forced off during his side’s Premier League defeat by Brighton on 14 March and missed Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle.

Neither Sunderland nor the Irish FA have formally announced he will be unavailable, but an update on Ballard’s condition is expected later on Monday.

It is unclear at this stage whether Ballard could be fit for a potential play-off final against Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina should Michael O’Neill’s side win in Bergamo.

Northern Ireland are already without Liverpool defender Conor Bradley, although Ali McCann did link up with his international team-mates when the squad met on Sunday evening.

Ballard, 26, was included in Northern Ireland’s squad when it was announced last week with O’Neill saying he “didn’t know the exact extent” of the injury.

“I know every player will do everything possible to try and be fit and available to play this game,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI last Monday.

“We just have to keep our fingers crossed for the players that didn’t play for their clubs at the weekend [that] there is still enough time.”

Should Northern Ireland beat Italy on Thursday, they will travel to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final on 31 March.