Dan Ballard ruled out of Northern Ireland play-off semi-final against Italy | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, Dan Ballard has been ruled out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Italy on Thursday because of a hamstring injury.

The centre-back sustained the problem in the recent defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, went off in the 64th minute, then missed Sunday’s Tyne-Wear Derby win over Newcastle United.

He had initially been named in Michael O’Neill’s travelling group for Bergamo later this week, but is unavailable and has been replaced by 19-year-old Tom Atcheson in O’Neill’s 28-man squad. The teenager plays for Blackburn Rovers, where O’Neill is interim head coach, and is yet to win a senior cap after regular involvement at youth level.

Northern Ireland are also without Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley and Preston North End defender Jamal Lewis, with Lewis having recently undergone ankle surgery.

O’Neill said the exact extent of Ballard’s issue remained unclear and that the medical staff would liaise with clubs for clarity. He described injuries as part of international football, noted the group was otherwise as strong as possible, and said players would do everything possible to be fit. He hoped those who missed out for their clubs at the weekend still have time to recover.

The winner on Thursday will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Source: Sunderland Echo