AliousMajor Injury Boost for Sunderland as Ballard Returns and Mundle Nears Comeback Ahead of Play-Off Push
Sunderland have received a significant lift ahead of their clash with QPR and the looming Championship play-offs, as key players Dan Ballard and Romaine Mundle move closer to full fitness.
Defender Ballard is set to make his return to the matchday squad for Saturday’s fixture after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for the past 11 games. Having trained impressively in recent sessions, the centre-back will be available from the bench, providing manager Regis Le Bris with a welcome boost in defence.
Meanwhile, winger Romaine Mundle—who has missed the last six matches due to his own hamstring issue—will not be involved this weekend but is poised to rejoin team training on Sunday. The club is optimistic he will be ready in time for the first leg of the play-off semi-final next Friday.
Le Bris, who has been strategically rotating his squad in recent weeks to maintain freshness and avoid overexertion, expressed confidence in the team’s readiness. “We’ve worked to ensure players get minutes and others have time to recover properly. We should have a fully fit squad for the play-offs, which puts us in a really strong position,” he said.
The coach also praised the depth and flexibility within the team, emphasizing the importance of having multiple options available to adapt to different game scenarios.
In further positive news, full-back Niall Huggins has returned to training after a lengthy 16-month layoff. While he’s not yet match-ready, Le Bris commended his progress, particularly during a recent training stint in Portugal. “He’s shown he can perform at a high level again,” said Le Bris, “but after such a long absence, consistency and building match fitness will take time.”
With the play-offs on the horizon, Sunderland’s improving injury situation could prove critical in their push for Premier League promotion.
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