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Former Arsenal youth player Dan Ballard has won 33 caps for Northern Ireland Dan Ballard is set to miss Northern Ireland's crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy on Thursday because of a hamstring injury. The Sunderland defender was forced off during his side's Premier League defeat by Brighton on 14 March and missed Sunday's 2-1 victory over Newcastle. Neither Sunderland nor the Irish FA have formally announced he will be unavailable, but an update on Ballard's condition is expected later on Monday. It is unclear at this stage whether Ballard could be fit for a potential play-off final against Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina should Michael O'Neill's side win in Bergamo. Northern Ireland are already without Liverpool defender Conor Bradley, although Ali Mc Cann did link up with his international team-mates when the squad met on Sunday evening. Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali also missed the Tyne-Wear derby through injury, with the four-time World Cup winners continuing to monitor his fitness before the play-off. Will 'risky' Gattuso lead Italy back to World Cup? NI 'thrive on underdog title' - Spencer Ballard, 26, was included in Northern Ireland's squad when it was announced last week with O'Neill saying he "didn't know the exact extent" of the injury. "I know every player will do everything possible to try and be fit and available to play this game, " O'Neill told BBC Sport NI last Monday. "We just have to keep our fingers crossed for the players that didn't play for their clubs at the weekend [that] there is still enough time. " Should Northern Ireland beat Italy on Thursday, they will travel to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final on 31 March. The winner will be in Group B for the World Cup alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray There's no way of sugar coating it - losing Dan Ballard would be a massive blow to Northern Ireland's hopes of reaching a first World Cup in 40 years. The Sunderland defender has been integral to the progress of Michael O'Neill's young side and he has an impact in both boxes. While he has always been a physical presence, his composure on the ball has also improved from playing Premier League football this season. Excluding Kieran Morrison, who has only played in the cup competitions for Liverpool, losing two of his four Premier League players is awful luck for O'Neill, after Conor Bradley was sidelined with a knee injury in January. Thankfully for NI, Ruairi Mc Conville, who was also an injury doubt leading into the camp, played the full 90 minutes in Norwich City's 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic. He will be an option for stepping in for Ballard and has impressed in his short international career to date, as will Oxford United's Ciaron Brown and Bolton's Eoin Toal. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Guardiola's dance of joy as Man City pile pressure on desolate Arsenal 'Impossible for him to stay' - what next for Tudor and Tottenham? Carabao Cup final reaction: Guardiola claims another title as Arsenal's wait continues Watch every episode of the award-winning gangster saga The true story of Birmingham's most notorious gang Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan discuss their intense new film Cillian Murphy curates a Peaky Blinders mixtape 'Seconds from title but Ireland can take positives' Proud Cacace seeks Navarrete unification duel What is Northern Ireland's record against Italy? 'Now feels like the right time to start family' Guardiola's dance of joy as Man City pile pressure on desolate Arsenal Are autograph hunters going too far? Three golds in 28 minutes - GB make history at World Indoors Hodgkinson wins 800m gold in championship record time. Video Hodgkinson wins 800m gold in championship record time 'Pathetic' Newcastle draw Shearer ire - as Sunderland in dreamland Outrun and in decline - are Rosenior's Chelsea near crisis point? Klopp, small shinpads and whether he really is boring - Milner in his own words The indoor evolution threatening to outstrip outdoor golf The race no-one wants to win - are Everton serious top-five contenders? Cult or culture? Mc Cullum comes full circle following Ashes review Afcon final chaos - key questions answered Inside the state school at the top of English rugby union Chelsea's cheating - was a fine too lenient? Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.