Jobe Bellingham ‘to be unhappy’ after what Troy Deeney has said about Sunderland
Troy Deeney has admitted that he is likely to upset Jobe Bellingham after what the talkSPORT pundit said about Sunderland.
Although Régis Le Bris’ side secured a spot in the play-offs with plenty of time to go, their form dipped massively at the end of the season.
After five straight defeats, Sunderland need a big turnaround when they travel to Coventry in the first leg of their play-off semi-final clash on Friday (8 May).
Deeney expects Coventry to beat Sunderland
Just like Sunderland, Coventry haven’t been in the greatest form as of late, with just two wins from their last five. However, a win on the final day of the regular season provides momentum for Frank Lampard’s side to build upon.
There is no doubt that there is plenty of talent in the Sunderland squad, reflected by plenty of Premier League interest this summer.
The likes of Chris Rigg, Dan Ballard, and Bellingham are all attracting interest, while Tommy Watson is set to join Brighton at the end of the campaign.
This perhaps highlights how important gaining promotion is for the Black Cats this season, as it would make it a lot easier to retain the services of big players.
However, speaking live on talkSPORT (9 May, 11:37 am), Deeney admitted he doesn’t see things going the way Sunderland would hope.
The former Watford striker said, “Sunderland, you would obviously have to argue have been great throughout the season, but backend of the season, they’ve been pretty poor.
“One goal and one point in their last six games, so there’s no real form going into that [the play-offs]. They would argue that they’ve rested players trying to be ready for this, but you can’t just turn it on overnight.
“Frank [Lampard] and Coventry are flying as well, and I think they’ve just got a load of momentum. I would probably argue now, and I know [Jobe] Bellingham’s not going to be happy with me saying this, but Coventry versus Sheffield United in the final.”
Sunderland could be set for a dangerous summer
The play-offs are completely unpredictable, and previous form doesn’t mean anything, so Le Bris’ side could well go into the game and surprise plenty of people.
Furthermore, with the Stadium of Light tie the second of the two legs, that could prove to be a boost that works in the favour of the Black Cats.
However, there must be worries in the North East that if Sunderland are unsuccessful in their aims of promotion this season, then the side could look depleted next year.
| Sunderland 2024/25 | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Jobe Bellingham | 40 | 4 | 3 |
Bellingham is looking more and more likely to move towards the exit door. However, even if a transfer is on the cards, the youngster will be eager to prove Deeney wrong and leave the Stadium of Light on a high.