Dan Ballard is set to sit out Sunderland's last-day trip to Preston - but Tony Mowbray says the defender could be in contention if the Black Cats reach the play-offs. Sunderland round off their Championship campaign on Monday with a trip to Deepdale knowing they must win and hope that at least one other result goes their way in order to secure a top six spot.
Their task is made that much harder given that they will go to Lancashire facing a third successive game with no fit centre-backs, with Danny Batth and Aji Alese ruled out until next season with knee and thigh injuries respectively, while Ballard has not played since suffering a hamstring problem while away on international duty with Northern Ireland at the end of March. Mowbray says Ballard is highly unlikely to be fit to play at Preston, however if Sunderland do end up in the play-offs there is a possibility he will be ready the following weekend when the play-off semi-finals first leg ties take place on May 13 and 14.
Asked whether Ballard could be involved, Mowbray said: "Who knows? I think Preston is going to come too soon for him.
