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| It's a great club and I'm looking forward to going back |
He's resumed his normal duties at the Stadium of Light having held the manager's post temporarily following the sacking of Paulo Di Canio and tonight will be in the away dug out with Sunderland for our Under-21 Premier League Cup tie in the Round of 32.
Our visitors have described the game as a special trip on a personal level for Ball and the midfielder said today: "From my point of view it will be nice to go back to Burnley. I've been back for games and to represent the club, but it's the first time I've been back as a coach for a competitive match."
Bally, who spent two full seasons with us, added: "It's a great club and I'm looking forward to going back."
Sunderland play in the Barclays Premier Under-21 League. They were beaten 2-1 last time out by West Brom at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare ground at Hetton. It was just their second defeat of the season and they are currently in third place below West Ham and Fulham.
Their team for the West Brom game was: Joel Dixon, Louis Laing, David Ferguson, Liam Agnew, Tom McNamee, John Egan, Duncan Watmore, El Hadji Ba, Craig Lynch, Moberg Karlsson, Chris Mavrias. Subs: Maksymilian Stryjek, Craig Lawson, Tom Beadling, George Honeyman, Ross Holland.
Burnley will have to make at least two changes from the team that won at Crewe in Qualifying Round 2. Archie Love and Micah Evans played in that game but they are now on loan to Halifax and Hereford respectively and won't feature tonight.
Manager Sean Dyche will have to decide which, if any, of his first team squad should play. We are permitted three over age outfield players and he could opt to use three of Kevin Long, Danny Lafferty, Brian Stock, former Sunderland striker Ryan Noble and Joseph Mills who returned from his loan at Oldham at the beginning of this week.
Our team in the win at Crewe was: Nick Liversedge, Cameron Dummigan, Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Danny Lafferty (Luke Conlan), Micah Evans (Jason Gilchrist), Steven Hewitt, Archie Love, Cameron Howieson, Jamie Frost (Luke Gallagher), Ryan Noble. Subs not used: Danijel Nizic, Jack Errington.
The game must be decided on the night with extra time and penalties if necessary and the winners going through to the Round of 16, the first non-regional round.
Already through are Arsenal, Blackburn, Bolton, Everton, Exeter, Leicester, Man City, West Brom and Wolves.
Admission to tonight's game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. is in the Bob Lord Stand at £3 Adults and £1 Concessions.