The Northern Ireland defender has clocked 50 appearances for the club

After making 50 appearances for Sunderland, defensive stalwart Dan Ballard said, “It’s a proud moment and I hope the fans can see I’m giving 100%.”

The 24-year-old has gained self-assurance despite taking on a major role this season and has started all but one of the term’s Championship games. He has scored three goals and assisted the club in keeping eight clean sheets.

Ballard, who captained Northern Ireland during the country’s Euro 2023 qualifying campaign, has improved. Speaking to the team after reaching a significant milestone at the Stadium of Light, he said, “It’s a proud moment.” I’ve had a great experience being here, and the people have been really welcoming to me. I hope they can see that I will always give it my all. I’ve tried to reward them with my on-field performances. Reaching 50 games is a pleasant accomplishment, and I hope there will be many more.

“I truly enjoy coming into training every day and working with the guys and the coaches, but I also feel incredibly settled off the pitch. Because they play both home and away, all of the players strive to provide their best for the fans. Regardless of how well or poorly we are doing, they are there every week. For many of the other guys, including me, it serves as a major motivator.

While he stands out as a leading figure in the team, he admits that there is room for more and he is happy to play that lead role at the back.

He then added, “Of course, we need people to step up—this is a young squad.” “As a defender, you should naturally lead from behind. You want to support the players in front of you, but you also want to work off the field. In the squad, we put a lot of effort into building strong relationships.

“I believe that the relationships within the team are strong. I am having a great time playing football here, and I think a lot of the other boys are too.