Sunderland interim head coach Mike Dodds says both the Black Cats and England have done the right thing for Jobe Bellingham after he was left out of the international set-up for the recent round of games.

Bellingham, who has played 2,925 minutes for the Black Cats across 37 Championship appearances, has been a regular for the Three Lions at youth level but was left out of England's recent U19s squad.

Jobe is Sunderland's second highest goal scorer this season with six goals to his name, the top scoring player aged 18 and under across England's top four tiers.

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His most recent goal, a rocket for the Black Cats in their 4-2 defeat at Southampton. That being said, the general consensus from the red and white fanbase was that Jobe looked like a player in need of a rest, and he's been given extra time off during the recent international break.

Dodds has revealed both the Black Cats and those involved with England thought it best to give Jobe a breather during the recent round of games.

"We just felt as a football club... he's played 30-odd games," Dodds said at his press conference prior to the clash with Cardiff City on Good Friday.

"We're very respectful to the international teams but our injury list at the moment isn't the best and for someone at 18 who has played the amount of games he has at the level he has, we felt it was more sensible for him to have a breather.

"He only came in for a couple of days over the two weeks, we gave him an extended period off to rest and recover which I think is sensible from both ours and England's perspective.

"He's been back in this week, he looks refreshed and I think both parties have done the right thing by him."