Ballard ruled out of three Northern Ireland games after late Georgia win

Daniel Ballard will miss Northern Ireland's next three matches after suffering a hamstring injury during Friday's 1-0 Nations League victory in Georgia, manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Sport NI. The Sunderland defender was hurt late in the game in Tbilisi, with O'Neill saying a scan was planned for Saturday.

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The injury accompanied a landmark result for Northern Ireland, who won an away match in the competition for the first time. According to the Irish FA's match report, it was also their first victory at League B level. Shea Charles scored in the 99th minute to settle the Group B2 opener at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium. The visitors had also needed Hume to clear a Giorgi Kvernadze header off the line before half-time, following a corner from Kvaratskhelia.

Goalkeeper Pierce Charles had kept the visitors level by saving Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's penalty. BBC Sport NI reported that the spot-kick followed a VAR review of Ballard's challenge on Luka Lochoshvili. Earlier in the second half, Charles had also stopped a close-range effort from Georges Mikautadze, turning the shot over the crossbar, the Irish FA reported.

The decisive move began with a long throw from captain Trai Hume. Georgia headed the ball back to him, allowing Hume to deliver it into the penalty area again. Shea Charles finished from six yards, with Giorgi Mamardashvili getting a hand to the ball but unable to keep it out, according to the Irish FA.

O'Neill praised his players but criticised the refereeing, disputing Georgia's penalty and Northern Ireland's unsuccessful appeal. He also blamed an unpunished challenge on Ceadach O'Neill for the sequence that led to Ballard's injury, BBC Sport NI reported.

O'Neill ruled Ballard out of the remaining games in this window against Hungary, Ukraine and Georgia, although the planned scan had not yet established the full extent of the problem. Northern Ireland's next fixture is at home to Hungary on Monday. The Irish FA reported that Hungary lost their opening group match 1-0 at home to Ukraine.