Playmaker's EFL 72: #42 Jobe Bellingham

We are now racing through into the mid-40's of players we think have had the best seasons throughout the EFL in the 2024 iteration of the 'Playmaker 72'

It's certainly been no easy task, but - just to clarify - our '72' is less a roll call of the best footballers in the EFL and more a tribute to those players who have enjoyed the most memorable seasons while racking up the most impressive stats.

Whatever the criteria, we're confident in our selections of the most outstanding players through the Championship, League One, and League Two and welcome any debate on the subject!

This man doesn’t really need much of an introduction as he is come under the microscope plenty of times throughout the campaign. A rising star of the EFL is next up for our ’72 of the 72’ with Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham.

#42 Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)

We may as well get it out of the way and indeed mention that the Black Cats attacker is the brother of Real Madrid star Jude but Jobe is carving out a fine start to a career for himself as a key man for an ambitious club in the second-tier.

Matching what has been a turbulent year for Sunderland as a whole, Bellingham has had major dips in form, most notably under the management of Mick Beale. However, after starting the campaign well, 18-year-old England U19 international is finishing with a flourish, too. 

The Birmingham City academy graduate, who joined Sunderland for a fee believed to be in the region of £3 million last summer, has managed seven goals in the second-tier this season, playing either as a ‘number ten’ or occasionally up-front, with only Premier League-linked Jack Clarke scoring more for the Mackems. 

At the age of just 18, Bellingham is, like his brother, getting lots and lots of minutes at a high, competitive level of football with 3284 minutes so far this season; only five other players have played more for Sunderland this season.

There is growth and room for improvement but if you take away the name and therefore the reputation, playing that much of a key role and notching seven times from midfield in your first full season as a professional is hugely impressive. 

He goes by ‘Jobe’ on the back of his shirt so he isn’t being associated with his brother and he is indeed making his own way with a successful first season from a personal point of view up on Wearside.

It counted for nothing in the end, but Jobe Bellingham's goal for Sunderland in their 4-2 defeat to Southampton this afternoon was a beauty! 🤩#CCP | #SAFC pic.twitter.com/RtaDcIj3Mu

— The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24) March 9, 2024

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

43: Devante Cole 44: Jacob Greaves 45: Paddy Lane

46: Herbie Kane 47: Dan James 48: Archie Collins 49: Karamoko Dembele

50: Haji Wright 51: Dan Crowley 52: Cameron Brannagan 53: Aaron Collins

54: Andy Cook 55: Connor Shaughnessy 56: Jannik Vestergaard

57: Willy Gnonto 58: Ellis Simms 59: Charlie Hughes 60: Fatawu Isshaku

61: Sam Hoskins 62: Paul Mullin 63: Chris Martin 64: Omari Hutchinson

65: Isaac Hutchinson 66: Sam Tickle 67: Ben Hinchcliffe 68: Michał Helik

69: Lewis Wing 70: Rob Apter 71: Kyle Walker-Peters 72: Alex Palmer