‘The one thing I would say…’: Dodds explains why Jobe Bellingham keeps starting for Sunderland

Mike Dodds has addressed the criticism around Jobe Bellingham’ playing time at Sunderland.

Jobe joined Sunderland from Birmingham City in the summer and kicked off his time on Wearside brilliantly, however he has massively dropped off since Tony Mowbray was sacked.

Despite only turning 18 years old in September, the midfielder has started 32 of the Black Cats’ 35 games in the Championship. He has rarely been given a rest this season and, as a result, has really struggled with burnout.

Sunderland fans have urged Mike Dodds to drop Jobe ahead of a busy week, while the club have even been accused of ‘nepotism’ due to the expectations set upon him due to his brother Jude’s success.

The Black Cats interim coach has now reacted to criticism and has suggested that he has no intention of dropping the teenager.

“It’s something we’ve got to be mindful of because he’s 18,” Dodds explained to the Sunderland Echo.

“The beauty of my position is we have access to so much data around distance covered, high-speed running and all of those types of things. If we felt that there was a huge drop off in terms of what he gives us, then that’s something we would have to focus on.

“But the one thing I would say about Jobe is he is always near the top when it comes to distance covered, high-intensity running, all of those types of things. We’re monitoring that all the time with all the players and if we see something where the physios or the sport science department flag up that someone is potentially fatiguing or flatlining, then you have that conversation.

“I really don’t want to be that guy who talks about data too much, but the facts are that when he plays he covers a huge amount of distance for us.

“The second half against Swansea in particular, the distance he covered in terms of his high-speed running were some of the best of the season – so he got stronger as that one went on. I understand it being a talking point and completely get it given that he’s 18, but it’s something we’re monitoring and if the time comes where we have to make a decision, then we will.”

Does Jobe deserve his place in the starting line-up?
Jobe Bellingham may cover a lot of ground, but he certainly hasn’t done it very well recently.The midfielder is so slow to react, often plays the ball backwards or just gets dispossessed.

Jobe has lost possession on 52 occasions this season – that’s less than only Jack Clarke, who is more understandable given that he is taking defenders on. Jobe just loses the ball because he makes the wrong decision or takes too long to do anything at all.

He showed a lot of potential at the start of the campaign and there is clearly a lot of talent in there, but it is baffling that Mike Dodds is just refusing to rest him. He isn’t bringing anything to the team and surely he knows that a brief spell out of the limelight could only do him some good.