Jobe Bellingham’s Dortmund progress highlighted after Sunderland transfer | OneFootball

Ex-Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham is beginning to find his stride at Borussia Dortmund after a testing start. A sustained run in the side has brought a marked upturn.

Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Atalanta was his eighth successive start in all competitions. According to Sunderland Echo, the England youth international moved from Sunderland in the summer and initially struggled for regular minutes.

Speaking on Thursday before the Bundesliga meeting with RB Leipzig, head coach Niko Kovac praised improved fitness and quicker play, described him as a complete professional, and said there is still room to grow while expressing satisfaction with his current level.

Early in the campaign, starts were scarce and performances inconsistent, with some reports of family frustration over his role. Sky Sports pundit Dietmar Hamann was among the critics, branding him spoiled and far from Jude’s standard.

Kovac has also maintained throughout that Bellingham is constantly improving, is well-mannered and humble, studies video, works hard on the training pitch, and has said he will have a great career.

On his arrival, sporting director Lars Ricken highlighted exceptional talent, maturity and game intelligence, said he perfectly fit Dortmund’s youth-first philosophy, and expected his professionalism, dynamism and ambition to enrich the team and secure an important future role.

It has taken time, but Dortmund now appear to be seeing that promise translate into consistent performances.

Source: Sunderland Echo