Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough believes Arsenal will be ‘delighted’ by the progress Blackpool loanee Daniel Ballard has made this season, as he told the Belfast Telegraph.
The fact that this Stevenage-born centre-back is already being compared to a bona fide Northern Irish legend after just a handful of international caps speaks volumes about his potential.
And Ballard’s ‘new Jonny Evans’ moniker, picked up after a stand-out performance during the November international break, is more than just a knee-jerk reaction to one fine display against Romania.
The Arsenal prospect has a lot to learn. After all, it was his lapse in concentration that paved the way for Romania’s winner last week and a red card in a 1-0 defeat to Wimbledon left a bitter taste in the mouth. But Ballard is proving himself to be a defender of real potential since leaving North London on loan over the summer.
“Dan’s come in, taken his chance and looks at home. For him, it’s a great learning curve alongside Jonny (Evans) and Craig (Cathcart),” Northern Ireland boss Baraclough explained.
“Arsenal will be delighted Dan has played another two games for Northern Ireland. He’s now played five (international) games where has played in four league games on loan at Blackpool.
“He will be so much stronger playing regular games for his club.”
This is not the first time Ballard, who is yet to make a first-team appearance for Arsenal, has been praised to the hilt by a manager blown away by his qualities in and out of possession.
“He’s been outstanding and I thought he was nearly faultless defensively on Saturday,” Blackpool coach Neil Critchley told the Gazette after a 1-0 victory over MK Dons recently.
“He has an assurance. He plays like a man and he defends well, competes well. I thought he was terrific.”
As Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will tell you, Arsenal have a coach in Mikel Arteta who has no qualms about throwing youngsters in at the deep end.
With David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis all facing uncertain futures in North London, a fine 2020/21 season could pave the way for Ballard to force his way into Arteta’s first-team plans.
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