Jobe Bellingham — a player who's heading for the top!
01/25/2025 01:00 AM
Jobe has been a star player in Sunderland's midfield this season and as Paddy Hollis writes, he doesn't just need his brother's name to get him by
'You only know him because his brother's famous' is something plenty of opposition fans have said about Jobe Bellingham.
Almost since the day he signed for Sunderland, Jobe has seemingly had more pressure on his shoulders than most teenagers. Any slip-up and there was so much criticism aimed his way.
His first season at Sunderland was one of development.
Featuring in forty five of our forty six league matches, we overplayed Jobe — contractually or not— and there was a worry that we might burn him out. He looked visibly knackered towards the end of the season but being part of the squad towards the back end of the campaign was draining for all involved.
The current campaign has been one of change for Sunderland and Jobe and has become one of the midfield three that's helped get us into the mix of a promotion push.
The former Birmingham man has been played in his best position and he's growing into a midfield monster— one created by this football club.
At times he controls the midfield and at Burnley, there was one particular turn that sent two home midfielders for a hotpot. His strength on the ball helps to move us forward and up the pitch, and his passing range has only improved.
It's no secret that Jobe has received far more attention than other footballers in our team.
He and his brother Jude have been in the spotlight, and not just because they're related. Jude loves watching Jobe whenever the chance arises, and their family trip to Seaburn beach was well received by other visitors that day.
The print media and social media attention on Jobe has intensified this season and a lot of this is down to a grounded and mature approach to talking about his career.
A man with a strong personality and someone who's clearly well thought of by his teammates, Jobe is destined to go to the top, just like his brother. However, he'll do so on his own merit.
He also has a genuine passion for this club.
His goal away aSwansea was followed by an enthusiastic 'Haway the Lads' before he grabbed the badge on his shirt. He's also one of the first to lead the celebrations, regardless of who scored.
Jobe is a footballer who has the world at his feet.
In eighteen months, he's developed into a player who's key to a team trying to get promoted through giving youth a chance. Even if we get promoted, he may leave in the summer, so we should make the most of him for however long he remains on Wearside.
Journalists and other football fans would probably want to see him move to a bigger club, which is certainly his destiny and will happen one day, yet whatever he ends up achieving in what'll hopefully be a long career, at least some part of it will be down to the years he spent at Sunderland.
