SUNDERLAND are facing a club-versus-country battle over Dan Ballard after the injured centre-half was called up by Northern Ireland ahead of the forthcoming international break.

Ballard missed Sunderland’s last two games against Watford and Derby after damaging his ankle in the latter stages of last month’s defeat at Plymouth, and is not expected to feature in tomorrow night’s home game with Leeds United.

However, the centre-half was named in Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming Nations League double-header against Belarus and Bulgaria earlier today and is set to join up with his national side at the start of next week.

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris admits that is a worry, with Sunderland’s medical team set to discuss Ballard’s situation with O’Neill and his coaching staff in the next few days.

“It (Ballard’s situation) is still a little grey, I can say.” said Le Bris, whose side head into their televised game with Leeds sitting at the top of the Championship table. “We are just in the middle (of working it out).

“He could be involved (for Northern Ireland), but I think he needs to recover properly. This issue with his ankle could be dangerous if we are not careful. He could play with very heavy strapping, but you know there is a risk of damage afterwards.

“It's not easy to manage the international break but if we can get the player to his best shape, it is best for everyone in the end. We will have conversations together to find the best way.”

Sunderland will also be without Ian Poveda tomorrow evening, with the summer signing having suffered a groin injury after coming on as a substitute in the latter stages of Tuesday’s win over Derby.

The problem has been assessed in the last few days, with Poveda, who joined as a free agent earlier this summer after spending the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, set to spend at least the next month on the sidelines.

“For Ian, it is still too early for the full diagnosis, but I think it is going to be a long injury, maybe four or six weeks,” said Le Bris. “It's a shame because he is very involved in his progression, his way of training.

“But the Championship is long, we still have 38 games to play. Ian is going to be helpful for the team, but he is going to need time to recover.”

Eliezer Mayenda will be another absentee tomorrow, with the forward having failed to recover from the muscular issue that has kept him out of the last two games.

Wilson Isidor will continue to lead the line in Mayenda’s absence, having scored in his last two matches against Watford and Derby. Chris Mepham picked up a knock in the latter stages of the Derby win, but will be fit to partner Luke O’Nien at the heart of the back four against Leeds.