Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic has lauded Jude Bellingham’s work ethic and says his rapid “development doesn’t surprise anyone here”, ahead of the team’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Manchester City on Wednesday.

Bellingham only arrived in Dortmund in July 2020 and, despite not turning 18 until June, has featured in 24 of the team’s 28 Bundesliga games this season, starting 15.

The central midfielder has also begun all four of BVB’s DFB Cup games, helping them progress to the semi-finals, and has appeared in all nine UEFA Champions League fixtures, starting seven times. As if that were not enough, he has also become a full England international, having earned the first of his two caps so far in November 2020.

Still just 17, Bellingham has been one of Dortmund’s most consistent performers this season. - Sebastian Widmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images

The 6'1" dynamo was one of the best players on the pitch in the narrow 2-1 reverse to Man City last week, producing a performance beyond his modest years as Dortmund went toe-to-toe with the runaway Premier League leaders, even having a goal disallowed after he was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Ederson.

“Jude Bellingham’s development doesn’t surprise anyone here,” said Terzic when asked about the teenager at his media briefing on Tuesday before the return leg.

“We see how he trains and works. He’s a huge talent and a fantastic player, but he’s still very young. We’re giving him all the support he needs and are trying to develop him as well as possible.”

Bellingham took the next step along that path away to VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 28, scoring his maiden Bundesliga goal early in the second half to pave the way for Dortmund to come back from a goal down to win 3-2.

Watch: Highlights of the win in Stuttgart

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“I should’ve had one in the Champions League but it got ruled out, so it was nice to bounce back with a goal today," Bellingham told bundesliga.com.

"It’s been a good week but essentially we lost the game on Tuesday and we won today. I much prefer winning, so still not the perfect week but very good and if we can manage to get something on Wednesday then it’ll be really good.”

And the signs are good that Terzic will once again call on the youngster in that game. “He’s been a very important part of the team in the last few weeks,” said the 38-year-old after the Stuttgart win.

Watch: Bellingham: "Nice to bounce back with a goal"

“He’s been in very good form, but that’s been the case over the entire season, especially when you consider that it’s his first year abroad, his age, and the coronavirus situation. It’s very impressive.

“He always gives 100 per cent out on the pitch and he’s constantly getting better in every regard, both in defence, where he wins a lot of balls for us, and in attack, where he’s instigating increasing numbers of situations for us. He got his reward with his first Bundesliga goal against Stuttgart. Long may it continue with him.”

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