HE missed the game through injury but Jobe Bellingham still played an important Sunderland role against Watford - appearing in the dressing room at half-time and giving his teammates some crucial advice.

Bellingham was forced to sit out of Saturday's game due to a minor ankle injury he picked up this week and he was sorely missed as Sunderland under-performed against the Hornets.

Despite not being at their best, the Black Cats salvaged a point thanks to Dennis Cirkin's last minute equaliser.

And even though Bellingham wasn't involved on the pitch, he still had a part to play off it.

"Even though he's not playing, he's in at half-time," revealed Luke O'Nien after the game.

"We're asking for his perspective on the game because he's a leader in our team. That's how much he's grown into the game.

“It doesn't matter how old he is. We look to him for advice. We look to him to lead all the time. He's stepped into this role really well."

Asked what Bellingham had said at half-time, O'Nien said: “I connect to Jobe. He sits higher up, so he gets to see the game from a different perspective. Just little things on how we can shift the momentum, how he sees the game, that we need to change. It's always important. You want to get different perspectives.

“Sometimes when we're in the game, it's really hard to see. So it's just that connection, seeing what he thinks. Then going, yeah, it could potentially work. But yeah, looking forward to getting him back when we get him back."

O'Nien added: "I thought Salis did quite well coming in today. Yes, Jobe's always a big miss, but he's still part of the team. We've got players that came in and did really well today. Milan got some space towards the end, which nearly scored. He looks really dangerous.

“Listen, Jobe's a wonderful player. I'm one of his biggest fans, more than his dad. Don't tell him that. I think Jobe's wonderful. He's a wonderful addition."