'Not even half as good as Jude' - Jobe Bellingham is the 'only problem' at Borussia Dortmund as ex-Bayern Munich star warns Englishman's situation 'isn't getting better'

Hamann has labelled Jobe as the "only problem child" at Dortmund, despite the club's impressive start to the season. Writing in his column for Sky Sport, Hamann praised the overall progress made under coach Kovac but singled out the young English midfielder for his struggles to make an impact.

So far this season, Bellingham has struggled to solidify a place in Dortmund's starting lineup. He has featured in eight matches across all competitions, accumulating just 281 minutes of action. He has been named in the first XI only three times - twice in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League - while failing to register a goal or an assist.

Hamann feels Dortmund themselves have made good progress under the current boss, but feels Bellingham has some trouble ahead.

"The momentum Niko Kovac has brought to the table is truly impressive. Finally, consistency. The whole team is finally working for the win. I don't think they'll be able to keep up with Munich until the end, because Bayern seem to be able to step up a gear when necessary," he wrote.

"But BVB's development is really good. Just imagine if they had even won the games in Turin and at St. Pauli . Then they'd be on Bayern's level. The only cause for concern seems to be Jobe Bellingham. Young, expensive and, so far, not even half as good as Jude Bellingham. It's not getting any easier for him."

Hamann's criticism comes as Bellingham continues to find his feet in the Bundesliga. In Dortmund's recent 4-1 Champions League victory over Athletic Club, the midfielder was handed a rare start but was substituted after 69 minutes following an unconvincing display. Manager Kovac, however, defended his player, saying: "Sure, he made one or two bad passes. But the boy is 20, and there's a lot of nervousness. I was very pleased with his performance."

Bellingham's on-field difficulties appear to be compounded by off-field tensions. According to reports, the midfielder is feeling "massively insecure" due to pressure from his family. The situation reportedly escalated in August when his father and advisor, Mark, confronted sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Kovac over a lack of playing time. While the club has downplayed any rift, the episode adds context to the intense scrutiny surrounding the player, who has started just three of Dortmund's eight matches this season.

After a promising pre-season, Bellingham has struggled for consistent minutes and form. He will be hoping for another opportunity to prove his worth and silence his critics when Dortmund face a tough Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig. With the spotlight intensifying and pundits like Hamann weighing in, the pressure is on the young Englishman to deliver a performance that justifies his significant transfer fee and cements his place in Kovac's plans.