Sunderland AFC news: Dan Ballard and Dennis Cirkin latest as Tony Mowbray discusses Luton play-off fixtures

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Tony Mowbray’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final matches against Luton.

The Black Cats boss is set to speak to the media at 1pm to, and we’ll have live updates from the Academy of Light.

Stick around and refresh the page for the latest SAFC news.

Sunderland will still be without several first-team players for the play-offs, with Danny Batth, Corry Evans, Ross Stewart, Elliot Emblton, Aji Alese and Jewison Bennette still sidelined.

Mowbray said last week that Dan Ballard could return from a hamstring issue if the side reached the play-offs.

“I think if we were to finish in the top six then there’s a chance that he would take part in the games that follow,” said Mowbray when asked about Ballard before Sunderland’s game against Watford.

Dennis Cirkin was forced off at half-time against Preston on Monday with an ankle issue and will have to be assessed ahead of the games against Luton.

Lynden Gooch was also substituted with a knock last time out but is expected to be available.

We’ll get a further update from Mowbray later today.

Sunderland have sold their full allocation of tickets for the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Luton.

The Black Cats received 1,032 away tickets for the match at Kenilworth Road, which will take place on Tuesday, May 16 (8pm kick-off).

As per EFL rules, teams have to give 2,000 tickets to the away team – or 10% of their stadium’s capacity – for their leg of the play-offs, while anything above that is at their own discretion.

As Kenilworth Road has a capacity of just 10,356, Sunderland were given less than 2,000 tickets for the fixture.

“I can’t sit here and discuss exactly who is going to be fit and whose not because there’s a few who didn’t train today but who we hope will train tomorrow.

“We have had a few scans on a few players over the last day or so.

“I think whatever team we put out will be competitive and we’ll try to find a way to get a positive result.”

“No.”

“I think it’s going to be a tight game. What are they 14 unbeaten and somebody told me we are nine unbeaten.

“It is going to be tight I think. What I know is that the stadium of Light will be bouncing and we’ve got to try and create and environment which is uncomfortable for Luton.

“We are playing against a team that is very robust, a very strong physical team, that record they will come with a level of confidence.

“We only played them seven or eight weeks ago at home and drew 1-1, tight game.

“I think for us there is a contrast of styles, a contrast of physicality, but we have to play to our strengths on the day, and I’m sure they will be doing exactly the same.”

Mowbray on previous play-off experiences

“They had one last year as well.

It’s sometimes easy to have a narrative of little Luton but they were in the play-offs last year as well.

“They have the experience o-f the play-offs and will be disappointed they didn’t get through in the play-offs last year. They will be looking to put that right this year.

“Our lads, these games, they are all big games.

“The mentality of our group, because of the injuries and adversity, has just been to go and express ourselves, do what we’re good at and see where it takes us.

“I don’t see a reason to change that.”

“I don’t think I was shocked, I was soaking wet after standing in the rain for 90 minutes.

“I think because of the way the injuries have piled up, they have all been long-term injuries in pretty crucial areas of the pitch,, it’s been a frustrating spell for us.

“We’ve talked about losing Ross earlier in the season, yet we’ve found a way to score goals. Somebody told me the other day we’ve scored the fourth most goals.

“We are sitting here going to play against a physically strong, direct team who are very connected and work extremely hard for each other without really any central defenders.

“I hope it’s gelling us together, the adversity of it. I think the team are enjoying the fact that we can try to find a way, trying to find a way to stay in games and find a way to win games. I think they are enjoying that.”

“We’ve got young Joe Anderson who we took from Everton.

“I don’t want to expose him to such big games at this moment, he’s a young boy.

“We might have let him go out on loan, we had some enquiries on the day we signed him to take him on loan.

“I wanted him to get to know the lads and gel into the football club. I think it would probably be unfair. He has a few substitute appearances.

“We probably have the smallest defence in English football at the moment, I would imagine but we have to find a way.”

“Neither of them trained. They might train tomorrow, and if they train tomorrow and put their hand up to come off after five minutes they won’t be playing.

“If they get through the session there’s a chance they’ll play.

“We didn’t train today because there is no need for them to train today.

“We will have a light training session tomorrow and if they come through, and after a one-one chat, and we decide we will go with it then that’s the case.

“In all honesty I don’t know if they are going to be available or not.”