Assuming Paddy McNair will start regardless of Ballard’s injury, O’Neill has a number of options available to him.
Norwich City’s Ruairi McConville is the most likely replacement for Ballard in Bergamo.
The 20-year-old was also an injury doubt but played the full 90 minutes of the loss to Southampton on Wednesday, and again in Saturday’s win over Charlton Athletic.
He made his debut in 2024 and has won nine caps, and has been a regular for Norwich since breaking into the first team in November.
Another option at centre back is Eoin Toal, who started the World Cup qualifier in Germany.
The Bolton Wanderers captain has helped the club to third in League One, and has won 10 caps.
Oxford United’s Ciaron Brown has often been used as a reliable back up for O’Neill when others are out injured, and is a natural left-sided centre back.
He possesses a long throw and has scored twice in his last six matches for Oxford, so is a threat at both ends of the pitch.
Tom Atcheson has been called into the squad as Ballard’s replacement from the Under-21s and is a know quantity to O’Neill, who is his manager at Blackburn Rovers.
Atcheson, 19, was named man of the match in Saturday’s goalless draw with Championship front runners Middlesbrough.
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