Jobe Bellingham is set to line up for Sunderland against his old club, Birmingham City, with Wayne Rooney now in charge of the Blues
As Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham gets ready to play for his hometown club this weekend, Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney has hailed the teenager as a “bright talent” with a “bright future.” However, he has also issued a warning, saying Bellingham would not receive “any special treatment.” Bellingham, who moved to Wearside from St Andrew’s in the summer, is anticipated to face Rooney’s Blues when Birmingham, who are now in 15th place in the standings, take on the eighth-placed Black Cats at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.
Despite not having worked with Bellingham prior to taking over at Birmingham last month, former Manchester United and England player Rooney is aware of the 18-year-old’s developing reputation. Rooney remarked, “I’m aware of him, but I don’t know him personally.”
“I’m sure people will have fond memories of him around the club, but ultimately he’s a Sunderland player, and we want to beat them on Saturday. It happens all the time in football. Players move on.
“There will be no special treatment; we will prepare for him in the same way as we prepare for the rest of their players. I can’t speak on why he left the club; whether that was a club decision or his decision, I don’t know.
“My focus is on the players who are here. He’s a bright talent, and I’m sure he has a bright future, but my focus is purely on the players here.”
Bellingham made his senior debut for Birmingham as a 16-year-old in January 2022 and made his championship debut the same month. He left the Midlands having made just six starts in all competitions, but since moving to Sunderland, he has started every one of the Black Cats’ 15 league games this season and also scored his first senior goal when he hit a brace in the 2-1 home win against Rotherham United in August.
Bellingham progressed through the Birmingham levels behind his older brother Jude, who went on to become a star at Borussia Dortmund and, more recently, Real Madrid and England. Rooney continued, “What Jude is doing is amazing.”
“For gamers nationwide, not just for those in this area. A young player should be inspired when they witness someone with the drive to move abroad, succeed in Germany, then continue on to play for Real Madrid, one of the biggest teams in the world, and accomplish what they are accomplishing in Spain.”
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