Sunderland AFC can confirm Dan Ballard has suffered a fractured foot.
The defender sustained the injury during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers and was subsequently replaced with nine minutes on the clock at the Stadium of Light.
Additional scans and consultations are set to take place before Ballard begins a period of rehabilitation, with the injury set to keep the summer signing out of action for the ‘foreseeable future’.
“Dan has a small fracture in his foot,” explained Head Coach Alex Neil.
“He’s going to be out for the foreseeable future, but it is difficult to put a timescale on it”
He continued: “We have a few other scans to undertake – and a couple of specialists to see – to fully understand the severity of it, but that process is underway to ensure he then receives the necessary treatment to get him back as soon as we can.
“It is disappointing for Dan and it is disappointing for us, as he has been a great signing show far, albeit we have only played a few games, and showed real promise and potential.
“It is a setback for Dan, but equally he will come back and hopefully be stronger for it.”