Sunderland urged to sign "proven number nine" amid Jobe Bellingham talk | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

The performances of midfielder Jobe Bellingham have been a huge positive in a disappointing season for Sunderland in the Championship.

Sunderland made the controversial decision to sack Tony Mowbray in December despite sitting just outside the play-off places at the time, replacing him with Michael Beale, and it is fair to say the move did not work out.

Beale was an unpopular appointment among Black Cats supporters, and he was sacked in February after winning just four of his 12 games in charge, with Mike Dodds taking over as interim head coach until the end of the season.

Dodds has failed to replicate the impact he made during his previous caretaker spell following Mowbray's exit, picking up just six points in nine games so far, but his side put in an excellent performance in the 0-0 draw against promotion-chasing Leeds United at Elland Road on Tuesday night.

Sunderland currently sit 13th in the table, and with nothing left to play for this season, attention is turning to the next managerial appointment.

Bellingham has been deployed as a midfielder for much of his time at the Stadium of Light since his summer move from Birmingham City, but he has featured as a central striker in the last four games.

The 18-year-old has impressed in his new role, but that will not come as a surprise to his brother, Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude, who described him as "a thoroughbred striker like our father" in December.

After Bellingham scored in the 2-0 win at Cardiff City on Good Friday, Dodds hinted he would be given further opportunities as a striker, telling The Northern Echo: "We should be excited about his performance, it's something we can build on moving forward.

"He’s scored a goal and done well in the game. He’s a coach’s dream, if I said go and play in goal he would just crack on with it.

"What he has got, which many number nines don’t have in this league, is unbelievable quality with his feet – a centre-midfielder playing up front."

Bellingham has scored seven goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Black Cats this season, and his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Newcastle United, Chelsea and Real Madrid all said to be keen ahead of the summer transfer window.

Sunderland fan pundit on Jobe Bellingham's best position

FLW's Sunderland fan pundit Jack Austwicke believes that striker is Bellingham's best position, but he says the Black Cats cannot rely on him to score the goals to lead the club to promotion next season, and urged the board to bring in an experienced number nine.

"For now, yeah, and I can see him being a striker in the future, I think that is probably his best position if I'm being totally honest," Jack said.

"We still need to go out and sign a proven number nine in the summer, someone who is going to come in and score goals straight away, someone who doesn't need time to develop, they are just there and the finished product.

"That's what we need, I like the idea of Jobe maybe being an understudy to that, and someone for the future, but I'm not sure if he can be our starting number nine next season.

"He's done well, he's scored goals, but he's only 18 years old, and it would be a lot of pressure on shoulders for him to be scoring all the goals and hopefully being the one to fire us to promotion."

Jobe Bellingham can be a useful option for Sunderland

It is difficult to disagree with Jack that while Bellingham is a good option to have in the forward areas, he must not be Sunderland's first choice striker next season.

With the likes of Luis Hemir Semedo, Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow and Eliezer Mayenda all failing to deliver for the Black Cats this season, it is understandable why Dodds has given Bellingham a run as a striker, and he has taken his chance with some strong performances.

However, the lack of a prolific striker has been incredibly damaging for Sunderland this campaign, and it is something that the board must address in the summer if the club are to challenge for promotion next term.