Jobe Bellingham has spoken out about his reaction to Sunderland’s sacking of Tony Mowbray.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Black Cats midfielder admitted that his former manager would be a ‘big miss’.
Jobe Bellingham was one of Tony Mowbray’s first signings of the summer after he was poached from his boyhood club Birmingham City.
The 60-year-old was well known for how brilliant he had been with the younger players, as he helped guide the likes of Jack Clarke and Dan Neil to a brilliant first campaign in the Championship.
Jobe linked up with Mowbray this season and was an ever present figure in his team, having started 19 of Sunderland’s 20 games in the second tier this term.
It was only days after the teenager had been given his first rest against Millwall that Mowbray was sacked, with the club sat ninth in the table.
Despite a run of bad results, Jobe has heaped praise on the former gaffer and admitted that the team were ‘shocked’ by his exit.
“We were quite shocked,” admits Bellingham. “But we tried to react as fast as possible and refocus on the games coming up.
“He’ll be a big miss as a person around the place. We loved playing under him and the fans loved him, too.
“He was such a good person, and he wanted to see all of us improve every day as players and people.
“He made me a more mature player in a short space of time. He took away pressure on matchdays for us, and it was such a good feeling.
“You just feel like you’re going out there and expressing yourself. I’m really grateful I got to work with him.”
Can Jobe keep developing without key man Mowbray?
Sunderland’s new ‘model’ saw them bring in a number of young players and transform them into a very attractive, exciting, young squad that were able to reach the play-offs last season.
It was Tony Mowbray’s brilliant work with them that allowed him to grow so much, rather than limiting their time on the bench or with the U21s.
That is likely what convinced Jobe to make the move to Wearside, as he knew it would be a good place for him to develop.
However, the 18-year-old could now be concerned that Mowbray has left. Of course, Sunderland will need to bring in a new manager that has a similar affect on the younger players, but it is a big risk taking away what benefit the youth so much over the last year or so.
Jobe has heaped praise on Mike Dodds though, so hopefully he can continue to be present in his training even after he is replaced in the hot seat.