Edin Terzic hails "outstanding" Jude Bellingham after Borussia Dortmund teen gets England call
Borussia Dortmund interim coach Edin Terzic has lauded Jude Bellingham's progress at the club after the teenager earned yet another call-up to England's senior squad.
It is unclear whether Bellingham will be permitted to travel for next week's World Cup qualifying matches, but the 17-year-old midfielder was nonetheless named in the initial squad by England manager Gareth Southgate.
The news came as no surprise to Terzic, who would have been thankful for Bellingham's stellar performance earlier this month when his side got the better of Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League last 16.
"I have nothing but positive things to say about Jude Bellingham," Terzic said at a press conference on Thursday. "We're really satisfied with him. I personally have a very close relationship with him. What he's shown in the last few weeks has been outstanding, especially considering he's only 17 years of age.
"He’s been invited to the England senior squad again. Everyone knows how talented the English national team is. So when you have someone who's 17 and is playing for us and for the England senior team, you can imagine how good he really is. I find he's not only doing well on the pitch but off it too."
Having his mother by his side in Germany has helped Bellingham settle into his first year away from home - all the more so in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The former Birmingham City youngster was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September before winning his first cap for England in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland last November.
Terzic says that Bellingham - with 21 Bundesliga appearances to his name - has become a vital part of his Dortmund squad.
Watch: Jude Bellingham and Dortmund's next generation
"On the pitch he's always there when he need him," said Terzic, who will be replaced by current Borussia Mönchengladbach boss Marco Rose in the summer.
"He's extremely good for us defensively because he wins the ball a lot but also in attack because he gets a lot of things started. We're really happy with him, and we'll try to make him even better."
Bellingham will hope he can help Dortmund to finish in the top four at the end of the current Bundesliga campaign, thereby securing a place in next season's Champions League. Currently fifth, they next travel to face 14th-placed Cologne on Saturday.
One player who won't be available for either BVB or England in their next games is Jadon Sancho, who is absent through injury.
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