Mike Dodds could be handed a major boost for Sunderland's clash with Queen's Park Rangers this weekend.

Defender Dan Ballard has been called up to Northern Ireland's squad for the international break along with fellow Black Cats' defender Trai Hume. 

The centre-back is a doubt for this weekend's Championship clash on Wearside after limping off in Sunderland's 4-2 defeat to Southampton last weekend.

The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in the Black Cats' starting XI and his absence was felt during his recent suspension. Sunderland looked a lot more solid with Ballard in the heart of their defence against Leicester City and struggled after he was withdrawn against the Saints.

However, his inclusion in Michael O’Neill’s 26-man Northern Ireland squad to face Romania and Scotland later this month suggests his injury is not as bad as first feared.

The Green and White Army play the Romanians at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest on Friday 22 March, and then, on Tuesday 26 March, come up against Steve Clarke’s Scotland side at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Speaking after the game at St. Mary's, Dodds said: "Dan tried to play on, I don't want to add any fuel to the fire because at this point I don't actually know.

"He's come off with a hamstring injury, which isn't great. I don't want to comment at the moment whether it is minor or major because he'll come in and be assessed on Monday.

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"He's strapped at the moment and he's OK within himself at the moment, he's not overly panicked but we'll have to see. We'll just have to wait and see."

The extent of Ballard's injury is still unknown, but it'll be put to Dodds at tomorrow's pre-match press conference. The Black Cats are already down to the bare bones at the back, with Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese, Niall Huggins and Jenson Seelt all out injured.

Sunderland ended the game at St. Mary's with a makeshift back four of Trai Hume, Seelt, Leo Hjelde and Callum Styles, with Dodds facing a real selection headache ahead of this weekend.