BLUES BOYS’ JOBE IS TO FOLLOW BRO’

BIRMINGHAM CITY believe Jude Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe can follow him to stardom.

But Brum boss Lee Bowyer insists Jobe (above) is a very different player to his big brother and admits Jude’s stunning career path will make it difficult for his sibling.

Jobe, who plays upfront and turned 16 in September, was among the substitutes for the first time in the Championship in Birmingham’s 0-0 draw at Coventry on Tuesday night.

He is yet to make his debut for City, but expectations are high after Jude’s stunning breakthrough as a teenager.

Jude (below, on the right with his brother) became Birmingham’s youngest-ever player, aged 16 and 38 days, and then their youngest scorer before a £25million move to Borussia Dortmund in July 2020.

Now 18, he has since become an England star with 10 caps and has played in the Champions League, too.

Bowyer predicts defensive midfielder Jude could end up one day marking his younger brother, who is an England Under-17 international. “We know he is going to be a good player and is going to be the future of the club. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been on the bench,” said Bowyer, of Jobe’s progression.

“These next couple of years are really important for him. We believe he will be good.

“But it’s not fair on him whenever he steps on the pitch now because everyone is going to expect him to be like his brother.

“He needs to fill out, he needs to get stronger and they are two completely different players.

“If you put them on the pitch, they would probably be playing against each other, if they were on opposite teams in five years’ time, in the positions that they play. But Jobe is still learning the game.”

Birmingham turned to Bellingham for the bench at the Coventry

Building Society Arena as they were without six senior players.

Bowyer added: “There is a pecking order and Jobe is on the bench because he is next in line.

“He is young, he is 16. Is he ready to play today? Of course, he isn’t.

“But there’s no point putting someone there that is not going to be the future of the football club.”