Sunderland double injury blow confirmed during international duty
Brian Brobbey was substituted 35 minutes into the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Germany on Thursday night after picking up a hamstring injury. Dan Ballard suffered a similar issue for Northern Ireland the following evening, limping off late in their Nations League tie against Georgia. This Sunderland injury news lands just days before Régis Le Bris takes his side into a home game against Brighton and Hove Albion.
It is a cruel blow for Sunderland. Ballard was replaced by Paddy McNair as Northern Ireland saw out their match, while Brobbey’s withdrawal came much earlier, in only the 35th minute against Germany. According to Chronicle Live’s coverage of the international injuries, Ballard seemingly picked up his issue late on against Georgia.
Xavi confirms Brobbey injury as striker returns to Wearside
Netherlands head coach Xavi confirmed the extent of Brobbey’s problem after the final whistle in Germany. His comments came moments after the Dutch had secured a point, with attention quickly turning to the fitness of his forward line. He told reporters that another striker would need to be called into the squad in Brobbey’s place.
Brian is indeed injured, unfortunately, so we will call up another striker. We haven’t decided who yet; I haven’t had time for that yet.
Brobbey has since returned to Wearside for treatment on his hamstring. Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been called up by the Netherlands as his replacement for the remainder of the international break.
Brobbey and Ballard issues create October selection headache
Losing both players within the space of 24 hours leaves Le Bris with plenty to think about before Saturday’s visit of Brighton. Sunderland have not said whether either man will be assessed before then, but the timing of both injuries has reduced the manager’s options heading into the fixture.
Neither player has featured for the club since the international break began, and Le Bris must now weigh their fitness alongside a squad already facing a heavy October schedule. The timing is unhelpful. Sunderland’s other squad news this week, including Enzo Le Fée’s long-term contract extension, had offered some rare positivity.
That good news now sits alongside fresh Sunderland injury news that Le Bris could do without. It leaves supporters wondering exactly how soon both men will be back involved.
Sunderland timeline and busy October fixture list
Brighton and Hove Albion visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday, October 10, with doubts now hanging over both Brobbey and Ballard. It is the first of a demanding run of fixtures for Sunderland this autumn.
The Black Cats then travel to face Torreense, before back-to-back matches against Bournemouth and Lech Poznan. October closes out with games against Leeds United, Brentford and Coventry City, a run that leaves Le Bris needing his squad back to full strength quickly. The visit of Brighton alone kicks off a stretch that will test the depth of this squad, regardless of what news follows on either player’s fitness.
Sunderland go into this stretch on the back of the controversial VAR penalty decision that shaped their last home fixture, and will want the international break’s fitness concerns resolved as quickly as possible.
