JOBE BELLINGHAM can follow big brother Jude all the way to the top.
That’s according to Sunderland caretaker manager Mike Dodds, who coached the pair for years at Birmingham City’s academy.
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Jobe, as he prefers to be known since his summer move to the Stadium of Light, has played a major role in Sunderland’s two wins over Leeds and West Brom under Dodds, who has been in charge since Tony Mowbray’s shock departure.
The 18-year-old had a goal disallowed starting as centre forward in the 2-1 win over West Brom, dropped to central midfield against Leeds and scored the winner when Dodds moved him up front for the last 20 minutes.
Dodds and sporting director Kristjaan Spearman played a key role in Jobe’s move to the North East and the caretaker boss is convinced the teenager has all the attributes to follow in the footsteps of his Real Madrid star sibling.
He said: “He can go to the very top. I’ve worked with a lot of young players and he would be up there with the very best.
“He made a really brave decision to leave Birmingham, the club he supported, where it was his life, he spent the best part of ten years at the academy and to leave showed character.
“I know it was a really tough decision for him but he had to take the emotion out of it and think about what was best for his career.
“Thankfully from our perspective it looks like he’s made the right decision, I’m sure he’d reiterate that, but it’s tough for him and it will only get easier as he starts to get credit in the bank for him.
“We’ve seen a boy in the last two games play in two different positions against two of the best teams in the league and he’s been remarkable and shown what a talent he is, regardless of the name on the back of his shirt.
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“He’s a second year scholar, just turned 18; I play him as a No9, he leads the line against a very good West Brom side.
“I play him deeper, he executes the game plan to the level and quality he did, and then in-game, change him again to a different position and he scores – speaks for itself.
“For an 18-year-old to do that is remarkable.”