This is why Dan Ballard was on crutches during Sunderland celebrations | OneFootball

Sunderland are hopeful that Dan Ballard will be fit for pre-season after the defender underwent ankle surgery.

According to Sunderland Echo, he was on crutches on Sunday as he joined his team-mates on the Stadium of Light pitch to celebrate a seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.

Ballard missed the final three Premier League games after a controversial red card for violent conduct at Wolves, with the referee judging he had pulled the hair of Tolu Arokodare following a VAR review.

That setback allowed him to have the operation and begin recovery before the squad reconvenes for what will be a vital campaign. He will be assessed over the coming weeks and, at this stage, the club are hopeful the issue will not stop him being ready for the new season.

Despite injury problems at times this season, Régis Le Bris’s group has been close to full strength in recent weeks as Sunderland finished strongly. Romaine Mundle has been the only long-term absentee with a hamstring issue, with a cautious approach taken to have him ready for pre-season, and he is currently on track.

Goalkeeper Simon Moore has been sidelined with a broken hand and will remain at the club next season, with the club understood to have already triggered their one-year extension option in his contract.

Source: Sunderland Echo