SUNDERLAND have been dealt a huge defensive blow, with Dan Ballard set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a fresh hamstring injury in training.

Ballard initially injured his hamstring while away on international duty with Northern Ireland but resumed training with Sunderland and was set to start at Cardiff City on Monday.

But the centre-half was dealt a fresh setback in training on Thursday and scans revealed he's suffered a tear.

Mowbray said: "Ballard is going to be out for two or three weeks which takes him just about to the end of the season.

"That's a huge blow. I don't see anyone else coming back.

"He trained for a few days. We had a chat that he was going to start on Monday. We were trying to protect him.

"He felt it again. At the end of training, he did train it was fine, then it was very innocuous. He knocked the ball, over stretched and felt his hamstring. Scans revealed a slight tear and it's going to be two-three weeks."

Ballard was sorely missed in defence as Sunderland conceded four goals in the crazy draw with Hull City.